Both sides deserved something for their efforts; they both gave compelling performances but the Highlanders were that bit more energetic and dynamic; that bit sharper.
In what has been a difficult and emotional week for the region, it was important the Highlanders delivered not only a pride-restoring performance, but a pride-restoring result.
It is an oddity that the Highlanders are on the cusp of a massively improved future, while Otago are on the verge of liquidation.
How could one team in the region get it so wrong, while the other appears to be getting so much right?
Those are questions for another day.
All anyone in Dunedin should really care about for now is that last night they got a thrilling contest - the perfect rugby to bless the new stadium and the perfect rugby to persuade the huge crowd to come back for more.
If the Highlanders can replicate the intensity and speed of their performance last night, they will feature in the playoffs. They were so full of running and good ideas; brutal work at the cleanout and ample self-belief.
Andrew Hore played like a man delighted to be a long way from the Hurricanes.
With a World Cup medal safely in his possession, what does he have left to prove? He has the mental freedom that comes with knowing these are his last few years and all he need do is relax and enjoy them.
His strength at the contact zone was a big feature and he even managed to scamper over for the Highlanders' first try - heading up the middle of a ruck and then scrambling back to his feet to flop over.
Hore epitomised the tenacity and aggression of the Highlanders.
They were so composed on the ball; so certain they could use it well.
The Crusaders were just as assured and that was the key to this contest - two good sides wanting to play with the ball and desperate to get it back when they didn't have it.
Hosea Gear scored a late try to push his side in front and secure the win. But it was a wonder both teams were still on their feet by then.
The speed of the first half was breathtaking. Both sides wanted to keep the ball alive and were prepared to push it wide and then trust they had the man power to win it back from the far reaches. It made for an absorbing and engaging contest, with the added intrigue of constantly wondering who would wilt first.
Knowing that fatigue would inevitably arrive later in the piece, it was critical that the Highlanders capitalised on their periods of superiority. It would have been criminal for them to have exerted so much pressure but not made it count on the scoreboard. What surprised was the invention and creativity of their offensive work.
It's expected from the Crusaders. When they ran a clever move that saw Robbie Fruean turn his back and then throw a pop pass to Matt Todd who fed Israel Dagg for the opening try, it was seen as typical Crusaders.
The Highlanders don't have the same reputation for such innovation but they will earn it should they continue to come up with random moments of excellence the way they did last night.
They sliced the Crusaders on several occasions - carving great chunks out of them through the powerful Phil Burleigh in the midfield and John Hardie. The key to so much of what they did was the accuracy and speed of Aaron Smith's passing.
The little halfback got the nod ahead of All Black Jimmy Cowan and made an obvious difference. He fires pass after pass off both hands - proper ones at that, old fashioned passes that fizzed out of his hand and flew long and flat.
His speciality was bullet ball straight to Burleigh from clean lineout ball. Those were flung along the advantage line, inviting the Crusaders to attempt the intercept. But high risk passing earned high rewards with the Highlanders able to attack the ball on the gainline and commit defenders.
Highlanders 27 (A. Hore, P. Burleigh, H. Gear tries; L. Sopoaga 3 cons, 2 pens) Crusaders 24 (I. Dagg, A. Ellis tries; T. Bleyendaal con, 4 pens)
