The New Zealand Maori rugby team added to its proud list of international victories by marking its centenary year with a courageous 31-28 win over Ireland on Friday.
Ireland fought back from an 18-3 first-half deficit to lead 25-18 early in the second half before joining England, Australia, France and the British and Irish Lions among the Maori's international victims.
Flyhalf Jonathan Sexton kicked 23 points for Ireland, landing his first eight kicks at goal but he missed the crucial ninth - a penalty in the 73rd minute - to cost his team a deserved draw.
The Maori scored first-half tries through winger Hosea Gear and center Dwayne Sweeney then, after squandering a comfortable lead, reclaimed the match with a length-of-the-field try to Karl Lowe midway through the second half.
Replacement winger Sean Maitland set up the crucial try with a 60-meter counterattacking run from near his own goalline, and the Maori moved the ball quickly from the right flank to the left where Gear freed backrower Lowe to score.
The Maori led 28-25 with Lowe's try but saw Sexton tie the scores 28-28 with his seventh penalty before substitute flyhalf Willie Ripia kicked a 71st-minute penalty to give them their final, three-point margin.
"It was awesome," Maori captain Liam Messam said. "The boys dug in for the full 80 minutes and that last 20 minutes showed the character of the side.
"One hundred years ... I think we celebrated the right way tonight with the win."
The Maori made a potent start after performing a spirited pre-match haka, rushing to a 15-0 lead after only 13 minutes with tries to former All Black Gear and Sweeney.
Gear started and finished the move which led to his fifth-minute try and Sweeney wrong-footed the Irish defense in midfield to score the second try 10 minutes later.
Sexton landed his first penalty in the 16th minute but an almost immediate reply by Luke McAlister put the Maori ahead 18-3 after 18 minutes.
The Maori then lost their momentum and also their discipline, conceding a series of penalties in defense which allowed Sexton to kick Ireland back into the game. He landed penalties in the 26th, 29th, 32nd, 34th and 39th minutes to tie the score 18-18 at halftime.
Winger Paddy Wallace scored Ireland's only try in the opening minute of the second half, giving them the lead for the first time - with Sexton's conversion - at 25-18.
McAlister reduced the margin with a penalty but missed two others before Lowe's try gave the Maori a 28-25 lead after 62 minutes.
Sexton tied the scores after 66 minutes, then Ripia added the decisive penalty inside the last 10 minutes. Seven minutes before fulltime the Irish flyhalf stepped up for one of his easiest shots of the night but skewed his kick wide of the posts, leaving the Maori with a famous victory.
"I think we gave ourselves a mountain to climb at the start but, credit to the boys, we grafted hard," said fullback Geordan Murphy who captained Ireland for the first time in his 67th international.
"Full credit to the Maori, though. They played well in the second half and deserved to win."
Final Score New Zealand Maori 31 (18) Ireland 28 (18)
Scorers
New Zealand Maori
Tries -Hosea Gear, Dwayne Sweeney, Karl Lowe
Penalty - Luke McAlister 3, Willie Ripia
Con - Luke McAlister, Willie Ripia
Ireland
Tries - Paddy Wallace
Penalty - Jonathan Sexton 7
Con - Jonathan Sexton
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