Highlanders just edge Brumbies

Scott Fava tumbles over Jimmy Cowan in tonight's game. Picture / Fotopress

The Highlanders continued their winning streak and consigned the ACT Brumbies to a third straight defeat with a nail-biting 19-18 Super 12 win in Dunedin tonight.

A late Brumbies assault on the Highlanders line wasn't successful and, despite scoring two tries to one, their poor record at Carisbrook continued, as did their faltering season.

A sixth straight game without defeat sees the Highlanders climb to second place early in the seventh round of matches.

However, the defending champion Brumbies now run the risk of dropping from contention. Losses to the Sharks and Blues before tonight and a host of injuries leaves the defence of their crown hanging by a thread.

A dream 19-point burst in the 25 minutes before halftime proved the difference for the Highlanders, who trailed 0-10 early and were largely on the back foot for most of a stop-start second half.

The Brumbies broke early through a Matt Giteau penalty and his conversion of a try to winger Henari Veratau, set up when halfback George Gregan threw a dummy which suckered three defenders.

The Highlanders, on the back of a superior scrum, gradually took control and dominated the rest of the first half to lead 19-10 at the break.

A dropped goal to first five-eighth Nick Evans and a Blair penalty preceded their only try to Grant Webb, the replacement for injured No 8 Paul Miller.

A mistake by Brumbies fullback Mark Gerrard led to a well-timed offload by second five-eighth Seilala Mapusua to Webb, who powered through two tacklers and dragged another two over the line.

With 20 minutes remaining the Brumbies had reduced the lead to one through a Giteau penalty and try to Stirling Mortlock.

Highlanders fullback Ben Blair missed two kickable penalty goal attempts which would have given his team breathing space and their stingy defence was tested to the fullest in the dying minutes.

Flanker Josh Blackie earned a crucial turnover with two minutes remaining and the game ended when a grubber kick for the corner by flanker George Smith just beat a despairing Veratau over the dead ball line.


Score:
Highlanders 19 (Grant Webb try; Ben Blair 3 pen, con, Nick Evans dropped goal)
ACT Brumbies 18 (Henari Veratau, Stirling Mortlock tries; Matt Giteau 2 pen, con)

Halftime: Highlanders 19-10.

- NZPA