In a finish that will live long in the memory, Fagon Hendricks produced a moment of individual brilliance to snatch a dramatic 24-24 draw for Outeniqua against Waterkloof at Noord Suid, with Taylor Maree’s nerveless conversion sealing the most unlikely of results after the final siren had sounded.

The Kwaggas arrived with their trademark physicality and imposing pack, but Waterkloof refused to be intimidated. Playing without fear, the hosts started brightly and were rewarded with an early penalty to edge 3-0 ahead.

What followed was a masterclass in attacking rugby from the Pretoria outfit. With ball in hand, Waterkloof were a marvel to behold, their support play and interplay causing all sorts of problems for the visitors from George. The patterns were crisp, the offloads clever, and suddenly Outeniqua looked vulnerable.

The complexion shifted in the 15th minute when the Kwaggas copped a yellow card for a dangerous tackle. Down to 14 men, Outeniqua needed to weather the storm. But instead of buckling, they bashed the door down. Wiaan Baard crashed over with the kind of powerful carry that’s become synonymous with George rugby, giving his side a 7-3 lead despite their numerical disadvantage.

Credit to Waterkloof’s forwards, although facing a monstrous Outeniqua pack, they stood toe-to-toe with the big men and refused to take a backward step. That courage was rewarded in the 26th minute when Marcel Tsiakos showed excellent game awareness, taking a quick tap from a penalty and diving over. At 10-7, the momentum had swung back to Kloof.

But Outeniqua hit straight back. Just two minutes later, centre Jade Lothering ran a thunderous line to dot down, reclaiming the lead at 14-10. A subsequent penalty extended the advantage to 17-10, and despite another yellow card reducing them to 14 men once more, the Kwaggas held a seven-point buffer at the break.

The second half became a war of attrition, both sides throwing everything at each other in a closely-contested affair. The breakthrough came when Hugo Dercksen produced a crucial turnover, setting the platform for Phillip Mans to crash through and level the scores at 17-17. Game on.

Waterkloof sensed blood. In the 54th minute, Almero Gerritsen displayed sharp thinking, taking a quick tap from a penalty to dive over and break the deadlock. At 24-17, Kloof had the momentum and the Kwaggas were defending for their lives, putting in bone-rattling tackle after bone-rattling tackle to stay in touch.

Another yellow card left Outeniqua down to 14 men for the third time, and as the final siren sounded, it appeared Waterkloof had done enough. But rugby has a funny way of producing miracles.

From a scrum deep in their own territory, Hendricks spotted a sliver of space and exploded through it. What followed was 70 metres of pure pace and determination as the scrumhalf scorched downfield to dive over in the corner. The crowd held its breath. The conversion would secure an improbable draw from the most unlikely of positions.

Step forward Taylor Maree. With the pressure cranked up to maximum and the angle far from straightforward, the flyhalf strode up, struck it clean, and watched it sail between the uprights. Bedlam. A 24-24 draw snatched from the jaws of defeat.