Highlanders topple Chiefs
Highlanders made it two wins from two in Super Rugby with a 23-13 win over the Chiefs 23-13 in Carisbrook.
Last Updated: 25/02/11 11:08am
The Highlanders combined gutsy defence and opportunist attack as they made it two wins from two in Super Rugby with a 23-13 victory over the Chiefs.
The home side rallied from 13-6 down with 17 unanswered points, much to the delight of their vocal fans in Carisbrook.
The Highlanders had not beaten the Chiefs since 2003 but went into the match with confidence after their morale-boosting win over the Hurricanes in round one.
The Chiefs were smarting after their away loss to the Brumbies but their rearranged starting line-up included nine past or present All Blacks and two more in the reserves.
There was a minute's silence for the victims of the Christchurch earthquake before Lima Sopoaga kicked off on a cool but calm evening in front of a crowd of more than 10,000.
Contrasting
Sopoaga missed a penalty after two minutes but succeeded from 30 metres two minutes later to give the Highlanders the early lead.
But the Chiefs struck back with concerted attack and, after Sitiveni Sivivatu had gone close to scoring, Mike Delany kicked a simple penalty to level the scores.
Sopoaga exchanged penalties midway through a spell of contrasting styles, the Chiefs keeping the ball in hand as they tried to exploit the strikepower of their dangerous backs.
The Chiefs broke the game open after 24 minutes when Jimmy Cowan missed touch from a penalty, Liam Messam counter-attacked down the right touch and Delany spied a gap and scooted through to score by the posts. His conversion made it 13-6.
Highlanders captain Jamie Mackintosh went down clutching his right knee just before half-time but returned for the second spell, while Robbie Robinson replaced Sopoaga, who had injured his shoulder.
Replacement hooker Mahonri Schwalger was denied a try from a forward drive after eight minutes but, from the ensuing 5m scrum, number eight Nasi Manu drove over and Robinson converted to tie the scores at 13-13.
The Highlanders took the lead 16-13 after 18 minutes when Robinson kicked a simple penalty after Tawera Kerr-Barlow was sin-binned for obstruction at a ruck.
Robinson broke out a minute later but Adam Thomson dropped the inside pass with the line beckoning.
Clincher
Robinson hit the crossbar with a penalty attempt from 50 metres as the Highlanders tried to hammer home their one-man advantage.
The Chiefs brought on Brendon Leonard and Stephen Donald as they sought to break the Highlanders defence but it was the home team which scored with seven minutes remaining.
Manu detached from a scrum, Ben Smith threw a long pass and Kade Poki scored in the left corner. Robinson converted well and the Highlanders had a lead they would not relinquish.