Match Details
| Crusaders (NZ) |
VS |
Highlanders (NZ) |
|
14 |
Kick off times:
7:35pm
(Local) Sat 17 May
5:35pm
(AEST) Sat 17 May
|
26 |
|
The Highlanders have given the Crusaders a massive wake-up call after dispatching them 26-14 in a thrilling final round Super 14 game at AMI Stadium in Christchurch.
The Crusaders were first off the mark, though, after a brilliant Dan Carter touch-finder soon resulted in a classic forward's drive that ended in a try being scored by hooker Corey Flynn.
Carter missed his first shot at goal but the Crusaders couldn't have asked for a more perfect start in the classic southern battle.
It didn't take too long for the Highlanders to notch up some points of their own however, as fullback Paul Williams perfectly read a Carter kick to catch it on the full and power through a tackle to dot down for the visitors' first five-pointer.
Highlanders first five-eighths Mike Delany must have been using the same kicking tee as Carter as his first attempt also missed the target.
It didn't take long for Delany to redeem himself though, as he slotted a valuable penalty kick to take an 8-5 lead over the championship heavyweights after just 14 minutes of play.
The lead wasn't to last very long as Carter added three points to the Crusaders table after some offside Highlanders play in their own half resulted in a penalty.
Delany added three more points soon after following some brilliant Highlanders running which eventuated in a penalty right out in front of the Crusaders' posts.
But, once again, some Highlanders offside play allowed Carter to nail another penalty kick and take the score line to 11-all with just over 10 minutes left in the first half.
The Highlanders must have been sick of the penalty kicks as first five-eighths Daniel Bowden strung together some beautiful steps and fends to set up halfback Toby Morland with a try.
Delany smacked the conversion home and stretched the score to a seven point lead over the Crusaders for the first time in the match.
The visiting underdogs weren't quite done however as some poor Crusaders' play allowed the Highlanders to attack the try line and send blindside flanker Adam Thompson over for try number three, with Delany missing the following conversion.
Carter was allowed to tighten things up slightly as he kicked another three-pointer to take the score to 23-14 in favour of the visitors at the half time break.
The first fifteen minutes of the second half proved just how close in ability the bottom and top teams are in the Super 14 competition as each team attacked hard and defended solidly without any points being scored.
Some superb Highlanders attacking play was rewarded shortly before the 60 minute mark when Delany added another three and took the score to 26-14.
Delany's attempt to kick another penalty and stretch the lead to over two converted tries curved off to the right of the posts but each minute ticking down pointed towards the potential upset becoming a reality.
Crusaders captain Richie McCaw was yellow-carded in a relatively unjust call and handed Delany another goal kicking opportunity that he sprayed wide.
The remainder of the game was spent very much in the Crusaders half as the Highlanders pushed for a bonus point try for some real South Island bragging rights.
A Crusaders knock on summed up their game as the final hooter sang out across AMI Stadium and the Highlanders claimed a triumphant and well deserved 26-14 win.
Score:
Crusaders 14
Tries: Flynn
Penalties: Carter
Highlanders 26
Tries: Williams, Morland, Thompson
Conversions: Delany
Penalties: Delany
Half Time: Highlanders 23-14
