KEY POINTS:
HIGHLANDERS 29 LIONS 20
Second five-eighth Johnny Leota finally brought smiles back to the Carisbrook faces as the Highlanders scored their first victory of the Super 14 rugby season.
The 24-year-old Manawatu midfielder scored two first-half tries in their 29-20 win over the Lions in a match they led comfortably in the first half, loosened their grip for a while until threatened with three tries, then finished with a flourish.
Leota's two tries gave the Highlanders a 14-3 halftime lead, with first five-eighth James Wilson converting both.
Fullback Paul Williams added another try two minutes after halftime to stretch their advantage to 21-3 before the Lions roared back with three tries in six minutes to close the gap to 21-20.
However, the more desperate home side regained their composure, tidied their game around the rucks and defence, and held on until replacement back Aaron Bancroft crossed for their bonus-earning fourth try two minutes from the end.
Leota's first try in the 12th minute was the result of constant pressure by the home side. Flanker Tim Boys turned over the ball in a tackle, the seventh time the Highlanders had done so until then, and a quick Craig Newby pass put Leota through.
Leota's second came when No 8 and captain Newby set first five-eighth James Wilson off from a scrum and Leota took the pass, cutting back to go through.
Both teams entered the game winless and the Highlanders undoubtedly looked the more desperate of the two to change that.
Williams sliced through for the Highlanders third try just two minutes into the second half when Newby took a quick lineout. Williams cut through two defenders and the line suddenly opened up for him.
Wilson converted and the Highlanders appeared home dry, ahead 21-3.
However carelessness crept into their game, passes were guessed, tackles became half-hearted attempts and the first-half composure disappeared.
The Lions stunned them with three quick tries through first five-eighth Jaco van Schalkwyk, second five-eighth Walter Venter and No 8 Willem Alberts. That closed the gap to 21-20.
"I think we just got excited after we led with three tries," Newby said.
"We knew we were better then them, we just felt were were better because we were getting over the advantage when we put the effort it."
Alberts' try came when the Highlanders were down to 14 players after referee Stuart Dickinson had sinbinned one of Highlanders' best in the first half, winger Fetu'u Vainikolo, for yet another shoulder charge.
Wilson brough some relief to the Carisbrook crowd with a 71st minute penalty goal to give the Highlanders a four-point cushion.
Then replacement Isaac Ross intercepted a Lions' pass to take play close to the Lions line which inspired the team for bonus-point try that Bancroft provided.
Highlanders 29 (Johnny Leota 2, Paul Williams, Aaron Bancroft tries; James Wilson pen, 3 con)
Lions 20 (Jaco van Schalkwyk, Walter Venter, Willem Alberts tries; van Schalkwyk pen, Jano Vermaak con).
Halftime: 14-3.
- NZPA
