Highlanders 29 Lions 20
View photosKEY POINTS:
The Highlanders finally claimed a victim this season and best of all they did it at Carisbrook - almost a year since their last Super 14 triumph.
After six straight defeats by small margins, the southern men eventually dealt to the high veldt invaders and vaulted from the competition cellar past the Lions and the Cheetahs. However they played with a haunted look for much of the second half after they squandered a significant lead in Jimmy Cowan's 50th match.
Midfielder Johnny Leota and fullback Paul Williams were prominent but all those in the blue-and-gold jersey deserved praise. They were a side under immense pressure.
The Lions were searching for a victory to start their horrendous overseas schedule but they had the comfort of already banking one win and a draw.
The Highlanders had to make all the play and they started with their grizzly frontrowers Clint Newlands, Jason Macdonald and Jamie Mackintosh. They needled, they provoked and they took away any Lions' thoughts about controlling the scrum.
This Highlander's confidence was boosted as as Leota scored off superb short passes from captain Craig Newby then James Wilson.
Williams then scored after a 45m dash from a quick throw.
At that stage, with a 21-3 lead, the Highlanders should have romped it home. Perhaps they assumed so too, because in a hideous few minutes, the Lions scored three tries while the Highlanders lost Fetu'u Vainikolo to the sinbin.
After that horror stretch the hosts regrouped with punishing drives towards the tryline but turned down a kickable penalty chance.
They reassessed that tactic as the clock ground down and Wilson obliged with a penalty success before Aaron Bancroft scored the bonus-point try.
Highlanders 29 (J Leota 2, P Williams, A Bancroft tries; J Wilson 3 con, pen)
Lions 20 (J van Schalkwyk, W Venter, W Alberts, tries; van Schalkwyk, con, pen) Halftime: 14-3
* In last night's other Super 14 game, the Chiefs broke a nine-match winless streak against the ACT Brumbies in stunning fashion with a 42-28 win in Canberra.
The Chiefs scored six converted tries to four and secured the bonus point by the 33rd minute as they cantered to the halftime break 28-7 up.
A second half rally from the Brumbies narrowed the lead to 35-21 with 15 minutes left.
But the Chiefs sealed it with the try of the match, a length of the field effort finished by reserve halfback Jamie Nutbrown.
It was the Chiefs' third consecutive victory, all with maximum points, and it puts them firmly into contention for the playoffs.
