In what was an 80-minute thriller, the Highlanders had a chance to tie the match and send it to golden point with a penalty after the fulltime hooter had sounded.
But the attempt off the boot of reserve first five-eighths Cameron Millar faded to the left of posts and saw the Crusaders escape extra time, prevailing 15-12.
The hosts were off to a hot start, with an early penalty off the boot of playmaker Rivez Reihana.
A clearance kick into touch from the Highlanders minutes later was thrown in quickly, leading to a line-break and 40m run by Crusaders fullback Johnny McNicholl.
The Highlanders conceded a penalty 5m from their line, which was tapped by Crusaders winger Sevu Reece. It would be Reece that would cross over soon after, and after some deliberation by match officials, he was awarded his 66th Super Rugby try – breaking the record for the most tries scored by an individual player.
The Crusaders were in full control in the opening 20 minutes of the match, with the momentum and a 10-point lead behind them. The Highlanders, meanwhile, were guilty of coughing up the ball and conceding penalties every time they got close to the line.
The visitors had a chance to get on the board in the 30th minute, but a penalty from first five-eighths Taine Robinson deflected off the right post.
They looked strong in the final 10 minutes of the first half however, holding much of the possession and constantly threatening the line.
It took until the 38th minute for the Highlanders to get their first points of the night after a loose pass from Scott Barrett inside the Crusaders’ 22 was picked off by Timoci Tavatavanawai, who was tackled 7m short of the line. Highlanders wing Jonah Lowe scooped the ball up from the back of the ruck and powered his way over.
A missed conversion from Robinson saw the Crusaders head into the sheds 10-5.
The Highlanders came out firing in the second half, running the ball 90m from their tryline to the opposite end in the opening minutes through Tavatavanawi – only to have the ball turned over by Reece.
It wouldn’t take long for the visitors to strike again though, after a slick set-piece play off a lineout drive saw halfback Folau Fakatava threaten the line before shovelling an impressive one-handed offload to Robinson, who dove over the line and converted for a 12-10 lead in the 50th minute.
With the Crusaders struggling to spark any real attacking chances, and the Highlanders looking dangerous, it looked like the visitors would cause a real upset.
With 10 minutes to play and two points behind, the Crusaders were awarded a penalty 25m out and opted against a kick for goal - instead banking on their lineout to put them ahead.
And it paid off, with All Black Tamaiti Williams fighting his way over the line for the side’s second try of the night and a three-point lead.
In the final minute of the game the Crusaders conceded a penalty 40m out from their line, with Millar opting to take the shot at goal and extend the game to golden point.
But the difficult kick narrowly missed, sailing over the dead ball line – sending the Crusaders to the top of the table.
In what was a valiant effort from the visitors, they left plenty of points out on the field – guilty of too many handling errors and penalties.
While they came into the game with a very slim chance of making the playoffs, it was brutally buried at Apollo Projects Stadium.
Crusaders 15 (Sevu Reece, Tamaiti Williams tries; Rivez Reihana con, pen)
Highlanders 12 (Jonah Lowe, Taine Robinson tries; Taine Robinson con)
HT: 10-5
Benjamin Plummer is an Auckland-based reporter who covers sport and breaking news. He has worked for the Herald since 2022.
