Southern men dish out more misery to Bulls

Nick Evans led the charge for the Highlanders but his dazzling performance was marred when he went off with a hamstring injury in the second half. Picture / Fotopress

The Highlanders got a glimpse of what life might be like with Nick Evans as they maintained their Carisbrook death grip on the hapless Bulls last night.

But they will be sweating on a medical report today as Evans strained a hamstring 20 minutes from the end after turning in a virtuoso display.

The Bulls have yet to beat the Highlanders on the road and never looked like breaking their duck on a miserable night in the south.

Evans was a conductor perfectly in tune with his orchestra. He was having his first start of the Super 12 and, as if looking to make up for lost time, turned on a dazzling hour.

"We'll do a lot of icing and see how we go," Evans said of the injury last night.

The former All Black picked up an ankle injury in pre-season. His kicking was sound, his acceleration electrifying and his eye for a half-gap showed what might be possible if he can make a swift recovery.

Indeed his final act was to slice through the Bulls defence only to be pulled down a metre from the tryline.

But it would be wrong to suggest the Highlanders were a one-man operation. Halfback Danny Lee was all hustle and bustle while Seilala Mapusua was an effective operator on attack and defence from second five-eighth.

The front row of Carl Hayman, Clarke Dermody and captain Anton Oliver - for whom the term gnarled warrior could have been invented - did the job on a Bulls pack which prides itself on set-piece muscle.

Young lock James Ryan got through plenty of work, while Hale T-Pole , a late replacement in the unfamiliar openside role for Craig Newby, and No 8 Paul Miller injected power and enthusiasm.

The Highlanders began impressively and ended the first half on the perfect note to take a 15-0 lead into the second half. It was as if a bit of rain and a slippery ground were the ideal setting for the hosts. They were more careful of possession, tackled impressively and snaffled the frequent Bulls turnovers.

Evans didn't waste any time announcing himself to the Bulls. He made a slashing break in the sixth minute, which opened a glorious chance only for fullback Ben Blair to be nailed at the corner flag.

Three minutes later he gave the Highlanders the lead. Mapusua made a break, flipped up a pass for Blair, who made ground before Evans finished the move by the posts.

Blair belted over a 40m penalty to increase the margin and the Highlanders showed they were up for a tough defensive night with some committed work when the Bulls did put some heat on.

But the Bulls often appeared cumbersome and predictable by comparison. They were also guilty of treating the ball as if it was an unwanted visitor. The Highlanders were far more protective of the pill.

The Highlanders needed some extra cushioning for the second half and got it in the final minute before the break.

Bulls fullback Johan Roets was bundled over as the Bulls went into defensive scramble mode, Ryan picked up the loose ball slipped it wide to wing Matt Saunders whose angled 30m run got him across near the left corner.

The Bulls gave it a decent crack early in the second half. First five-eighth Derick Hougaard, whose kicking was poor, made one sizzling break in broken play and otherwise the Bulls seemed bereft of inspiration. The Highlanders wrapped it up when Filipo Levi barged across near the end.

HIGHLANDERS 23 BULLS 0
Highlanders: N. Evans, M. Saunders, F. Levi tries; B. Blair 2 pen, con.

HT: 15-0