KEY POINTS:
Poor old Peter Hewat. He scored what could have been the winning try but he couldn't manage the winning kick.
The Highlanders produced perhaps the season's best example of thinking a game was won - and nearly delivering it into the hands of the opposition.
The Waratahs, after looking dismal for much of the game, suddenly snapped into gear and scored three tries in the last 15 minutes to cut down a 26-6 lead. Two of those tries went to Hewat but he couldn't bring home the wide kick that would have snatched the match.
The difference was probably Nick Evans - whose first-half heroics marginally outdid those of Hewat in the second half.
All those getting excited about Piri Weepu's admittedly good form at first five-eighths for the Hurricanes should have been watching Evans' display last night.
While there is no doubt Weepu has made a good fist of the 10 jersey, a couple of Evans touches showed the extra dimension that a playmaker with vision and genuine speed can bring.
Evans' clever kick saw the ball re-gathered and re-kicked to spark a smart try to winger Viliame Waqaseduadua early in the first half.
Then, with 30 minutes gone, Evans rocketed up into the backline after a tap penalty from a scrum. He was cleverly put into the gap by Aaron Bancroft's pass after a Jimmy Cowan thrust - but Evans' pace and out-and-in swerve did the damage, wrong-footing three defenders.
But wait, there was more. Another Evans incursion into the backline produced an inside pass of such timing that centre Jason Kawau found himself in oceans of space, calmly heading right and under the posts while the defence was still running left, wondering where the ball was.
In truth, the Waratahs had made much of the play but the handling errors so common in this year's Super 14 blighted their efforts - and their defence was lamentable.
In contrast, the Highlanders made their sorties into the Waratahs end zone count heavily - and Evans seemed to transfix them as they built a 20-6 halftime lead.
The Waratahs' early play was perhaps summed up by a piece of play from winger Lote Tuqiri. He chipped and chased out of defence, gathered the kick - but his huge pass to flying hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau was so overcooked, it flew past the hooker and into the bleachers.
But, up 26-6, the Highlanders appeared to think they could have a cup of tea and a lie-down. The Waratahs capitalised with a fine try to young halfback Josh Holmes after a blistering run by under-19 winger Lachlan Turner and then another to Hewat. 26-20 with five minutes to go.
Then a burst by Tuqiri, a clever kick from Daniel Halangahu and a splendid re-gather from Hewat saw the scores brought to within one point of each other - but Hewat just couldn't provide what would have been a Great Escape.
Waratahs 25 (J. Holmes, P. Hewat (2) tries, P. Hewat 2 con, 2 pen)
Highlanders 26 (V. Waqaseduadua, N. Evans, J. Kawau tries, Evans con, 3 pen).
Halftime: Highlanders 20-6
