Highlanders snap Ballymore curse to stay on a roll

The Highlanders snapped a six-year Ballymore hoodoo, overcoming the sinbinning of Craig Newby and a slice of Chris Latham magic to forge a gutsy 23-16 win over the Queensland Reds in Brisbane tonight.

Two tries from man-of-the match Josh Blackie were decisive for the Highlanders who carried on their good form from South Africa with an efficient victory that severely dented the Reds' semifinal aspirations.

Without a win at Ballymore since 1999, the Highlanders started strongly and then weathered a desperate final onslaught from the 14-man Reds who lost Wallabies wing Wendell Sailor to the bin in 66th minute for unsportsmanlike play.

Leading 23-16 with five minutes to play, the Reds turned down a kickable penalty and stormed over the line but were held up and then surrendered a tighthead from the resulting 5-metre scrum.

The turnover exemplified the Highlanders' resolve, as they succeeded in keeping the Reds scoreless in the second spell.

The Highlanders, who provisionally improved to third, were first to attract the ire of South African referee Shaun Veldsman who marched Newby for backchat after the Highlanders, in possession, were penalised at a maul.

A bemused Newby was the fall guy after fullback Ben Blair was backpedalled 10m for a similar offence in the first half.

However, the Reds were unable to take advantage of their numerical advantage and the Highlanders their 17-16 halftime lead when Blair goaled a 56th minute penalty.

Veldsman, whose ruling seemed to confuse both sides, squared the ledger in the 63rd minute when a tetchy Sailor attempted to foot trip Blair after the former All Black beat him with pace.

Sailor had been given a let off two minutes earlier when his forehead nudged Blackie after a blow up at a ruck.

The Blackie double gave the Highlanders a 17-6 lead but a disjointed Reds struck back on the back of a magical interlude from Wallabies fullback Latham.

Dazed by a dubious hit on the chin by Highlanders first five-eighth Cameron McIntyre, Latham dragged himself off the canvas and took his team with him a minute later when he beat two tackles and, legs pumping, carried wing Glen Horton over the line before forcing the ball centimetres from the corner flag.

The 34th minute try proved the catalyst for the outplayed hosts and they narrowed the gap to a point at the break when centre Junior Pelesasa brushed off Newby and Paul Miller to Horton stranded .

Blair opened the scoring in the second minute with a handy penalty and had another easy assignment to add the extras after Blackie rounded off a perfectly executed back movement from halfway in the 12th minute.

Wing Matt Saunders splintered the defence and linked with Anthony Tuitavake who had Blackie ranging up in support to cross unopposed behind the sticks.

The Highlanders were dominant at the set pieces, demolishing the Reds' scrum on two early occasions and their ascendancy extended to the lineout in the 25th minute when Blackie made the most of an errant throw when the ball fell into his lap 5m out.

Hooker Stephen Moore missed Tom McVerry and Blackie could scarcely believe his luck as he plunged over the line to give the Highlanders the early break.

Highlanders 23 (Josh Blackie 2 tries; Ben Blair 3 pens, 2 con)

Reds 16 (Chris Latham, Junior Pelesasa tries; Julian Huxley 2 pens). Halftime 17-16.

- NZPA