Rugby: Thomson guides Highlanders to win

Daniel Bowden slips a tackle last night. Photo / Getty Images

SUPER 14
Highlanders 32
Cheetahs 8

Adam Thomson enhanced his reputation as the Highlanders warmed to their work and added to the Cheetahs' misery at Carisbrook last night.

The All Black blindsider scored two of the Highlanders' five tries, made the lineout take for the third, and displayed a workrate that was not always evident last year.

It was a satisfactory win by the Highlanders who overcame a sluggish first half, when they trailed 5-8, to score four tries and 27 unanswered points in the second spell.

The forwards gained quick front- foot ball and the backs ran with increasing confidence against opposition which showed plenty of grit but little imagination.

Fullback Israel Dagg and right wing Ben Smith were classy players in the Highlanders' backline while Thomson, No 8 George Naoupu and openside flanker Alando Soakai capitalised on the endeavour of their tight five.

Highlanders coach Glenn Moore encouraged his players to build phases and pressure during the halftime break and they heeded his advice so well that he awarded them a pass mark after the game.

He was concerned at the injuries which forced midfielders Daniel Bowden and Jason Shoemark from the ground - they will be assessed during the next few days - but impressed at the contributions of their replacements, especially Kenny Lynn, who moved into centre.

He was also encouraged by the return of All Black prop Jamie Mackintosh, who played the last 35 minutes with no ill-effects to his left knee; and at stalwart lock Tom Donnelly's first start of the season.

"It took some time to break down the Cheetahs but I think the players and the squad will have taken quite a bit of confidence out of this game," Moore said.

A rugged-up crowd of about 5000, who earlier watched Otago legend Josh Kronfeld strut his stuff with Dancing With the Stars partner Rachel Burstein, became increasingly vocal as the Highlanders took control.

There was little quality rugby in the first half, certainly by the Highlanders, but they did construct one forward try after 20 minutes, Thomson crashing over after a lineout drive on Naoupu.

But the backs were not on song and it did not help that goalkickers Bowden (three) and Berquist missed all four attempts at goal. They ended the game with three (all by Berquist) out of eight.

The Cheetahs' high point came after 30 minutes when, after the ball bobbled free from a high kick, centre Corne Uys gathered and raced 40 metres to the line.

But the Highlanders clicked into gear in the second spell during which they scored four tries and 27 unanswered points to clinch their first bonus point win of the season.

Dagg, who has had a frustrating lack of opportunities, scored two; blood-bin replacement Steven Setephano crashed against the right upright pad after Naoupu surged through some weak tackling from a lineout and flipped a neat pass; and Thomson scored his second when he finished off a lovely team try initiated by a sniping burst by Jimmy Cowan which Soakai carried on almost to the line.

The Cheetahs soldiered on bravely but, in the end, they were left to contemplate their sixth consecutive loss after being set an itinerary that no New Zealand team would tolerate.

"It is too long to be away from home, to be honest, but there is nothing we can do about it," Cheetahs coach, former Springbok coach hooker, Naka Drotske lamented.

Highlanders 32 (A Thomson 2, I Dagg 2, S Setephano tries, M Berquist 2 cons, pen) Cheetahs 8 (C Uys try, J-L Potgieter pen). Halftime: Cheetahs 8-5.