The NSW Waratahs have ground out an essential bonus-point victory and denied Moana Pasifika an emotional triumph days after players were told the Super Rugby Pacific club would be disbanded.
The hosts prevailed 29-14 on Friday in Sydney, but only after trailing 14-12 at halftime and being forced off with just 11 minutes remaining for 40 minutes due to nearby lightning strikes.
Watch every second of the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific season live and on demand via Stan Sport.
The weather forced the Duke and Duchess of Sussex Harry and Meghan, in the company of rugby royalty including John Eales, out of their seats in the second half.
Pasifika, whose ownership on Wednesday confirmed it would be unviable to continue funding the outfit beyond this year, started well and had their chances to build a lead early in the second half.
But twice they knocked on close to the line and then piggy-backed the hosts towards their own line with scrum ill-discipline and line-out errors.
Eventually, after some sloppy unforced errors of their own, the Waratahs pounced.
Isaac Kailea crossed after repeated, pounding efforts from close range, then Sid Harvey had his second to make it 22-14.
The fullback didn't get a chance to convert his own try, players forced off due to the electrical storm and forced into the changerooms.
He hooked it past the upright on resumption but made a huge play to knock a ball loose just as Pasifika's Solomon Alaimalo had broken clear.
Semisi Tupou Ta'eiloa's own hand then denied him a try near the posts, the flanker held up in goal with five minutes to play.
The Waratahs controlled possession for the final minutes and Folau Fainga'a's rolling-maul try secured the extra point on the buzzer.
Earlier, Pasifika halfback Melani Matavao caused all sorts of problems in the first half with two tries from quick taps around the ruck.
The crafty No.9 played it perfectly, knocking on deliberately after earning the penalty before running through an offside Waratahs defence.
Tristan Reilly and Harvey, athletically diving into the corner, both scored to keep the hosts close at the break.
Victory broke a three-game losing streak to Pasifika and improved the Waratahs to 4-4 and in sight of the top six.
Moana (1-8) had lost their past seven games, conceding an average of 48.3 points in those losses, but arrived in Sydney with plenty to prove.
Licence-holder New Zealand Rugby is hopeful fresh investment can save the Auckland-based franchise, designed to represent Tongan, Samoan and Cook Islands.
But after poor results, a lack of public and commercial support and just two games in five seasons played in either Samoa or Tonga, plans are being formulated for a 10-team competition without them for 2027.
"We had a day to process everything, then had to jump on a plane," coach and former All Blacks great Tana Umaga said before play.
"We had a discussion (and said), 'don't come over here for nothing'."
