Windsor Park's King-Prince royal connection crowned a sparkling comeback but it wasn't quite enough to take the jewels.
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A topsy-turvy contest saw Clarence come from behind to lead 3-1 before a late equaliser denied them victory in Launceston for the second week running.
The fact that the 3-3 draw provided plenty of entertainment for the home crowd was little consolation for Riverside coach Alex Gaetani whose side remains level on points with Zebras but behind on goal difference.
"Because they are ahead of us, a win would have been really good for us today," he said.
"To get to 3-3 from 3-1 down showed a lot of character so I'm pleased to get a point but not pleased with the point.
"Apart from making too many errors, I felt like we were the stronger side. We make a lot of mistakes in possession and turnovers are killing us, especially when they got those two goals in quick succession."
A week after their defensive resilience had prompted the royal connection in local newspaper reports, Jasper King and Tom Prince combined again at the opposite end of the field.
Tireless in his wing-back role, King's final contribution before being substituted four minutes from time was a burst down the right and a drilled cross into the danger zone where Prince jabbed home.
His first NPL goal was fully deserved after coming close several times this season, principally with a late header which nearly earned a point against champions Devonport.
It was deja vu for the Zebras who had been similarly denied seven days earlier when Matty Oh claimed his first senior goal for Launceston City.
With captain Taylor Neilson pulling the strings in his Javier Mascherano role, Riverside enjoyed prolonged periods of control, Matt Spanos giving them a ninth-minute lead after excellent work by Fletcher Fulton.
Zebras soon found their stride with Matt Pace, Jake Thompson and Riley Dillon all going close before Thompson finished a delightful mood to equalise three minutes before the break.
Two goals in four minutes from the dangerous Dillon looked to have killed the game off, the first from close range, the second pure route one.
But Olympic are far from the easybeats of their first statewide campaign and were soon back in it. Aaron Kidmas fed Nil Sanz whose perfect pass invited Fulton to halve the arrears.
Even after Prince levelled proceedings both sides could have won it, but James Ackerley was wasteful and opposing sub Mackenzie Hancox's 93rd-minute volley went straight into keeper Frank Mainella's grateful gut.
"We've got more goals in us than last year and that's a real positive because it means we can get back into games, like we did today," Gaetani added.
Second-placed Glenorchy made up ground at the top with a 3-0 defeat of Launceston City at KGV.
Lachy Clark returned in goal for Roger Hardwicke's side but was helpless to prevent Cade Smith finishing a tidy move to give the hosts an early lead.
Alex Walter headed a second just before the break while Rob Gerrard and Yasin Mohammadi were off target with City's best chances.
Joffrey Nkoso killed off the contest soon after the restart although the returning Charlie Dyer, Jarrod Linger, Alex Rossetto and sub Will Fleming all created chances for the visitors.
Ladder leaders Devonport dropped their first points of the campaign but needed an injury-time equaliser from Miles Barnard to earn a 1-1 draw with Kingborough who had taken an early lead through Chris Downes.
Goals from Jack Ryan and Joseph Mwarabu saw Olympia fight back from an early Nick Morton strike to beat South Hobart 2-1.