Highlanders 31 Hurricanes 33
Like a Russian winter, this clash began as something beautiful, before evolving into a grim, relentless grind that left the soul cold.
Both sides accrued bonus points in the first 40, only to clam up and allow their rugby to become riddled with mistakes.
Predictably, because the Highlanders never win
close encounters, the Hurricanes disintegrated less to hold on for the victory they needed to remain an outside threat.
Having reached the break 26-24 ahead in a game that wouldn't sit still, the Hurricanes wanted to not only secure the victory in the second half, but build some confidence and momentum with more open, quality rugby.
But the Highlanders would not open up as easily as they had in the first half. The tries wouldn't come and mistakes crept in for both sides. When Aaron Cruden couldn't nail the penalties, tension mounted leading to more mistakes and more tension.
It fell to Ma'a Nonu to put the contest beyond doubt when he blasted through the Highlanders midfield.
A solid scrum saw Cruden pop to the big man who ran straight and hard. No one could do anything about it.
The Hurricanes would have loved to have been more convincing but in the end, they would have been happy enough leaving with five championship points, even if they had to be ground out.
The first half offers some guide to the future. As the tries kept flowing, so did the questions. Were both sides as committed as they needed to be on defence?
Tackles were made but there were also some seriously sloppy efforts that hinted that both sides had the mindset that victory would come by out-scoring rather than worrying too much about shutting up shop.
It certainly looked that way when Hosea Gear was caught napping in the build-up to Ben Smith's try midway through the first half.
Some prolonged pick and drive brought the Highlanders to within five metres, then Jimmy Cowan threw a flat pass that saw Smith coast over on the outside of Gear, who had left too much room to attack.
Just as flimsy was Fetu'u Vainikolo's effort on Cory Jane minutes later. The wing waggled his hand at the Hurricanes fullback, allowing Jane to turn a deep kick into a try for Cruden.
Hurricanes coach Colin Cooper deserves some credit for the way he has gently phased Cruden into his rookie Super 14 season. The hype over Cruden was considerable at the end of last year's provincial championship and expectation was rife he could walk into the Hurricanes and instantly find his feet.
Cooper, a man of considerable experience, took a different view and has broken the young man in gently, giving him time off the bench most weeks and the occasional start.
The benefit of that softly-softly approach was felt last night with Cruden, while lacking some distance in his kicks from hand and accuracy in his efforts at goal, opening up the Highlanders several times with his darting probes. And for a little man, he was expert at offloading out of the contact.
The 21-year-old is in form and everyone will find out how mentally robust he is in these next few weeks when the Hurricanes continue to face the same equation of lose and fall out of playoff contention.
In that regard, it was hard not to keep coming back to the role the Highlanders can play in these closing weeks. Clearly their own playoff hopes died some time ago but they showed enough last night to believe they can shape the destiny of others.
If Stephen Setephano, Alando Soakai and Adam Thomson can remain as effective with ball in hand as they did last night, then the Highlanders are going to be a handful in their final three games.
Soakai especially made some big charges that opened up the Hurricanes and Thomson lived in the midfield where he was able to give his side momentum and presence.
It was the same old story for the Highlanders, though. While their loose trio and Israel Dagg were able to get them into the right places and get in behind the Hurricanes, there were just too many mistakes made after the hard work had been done.
Composure and discipline deserted the home side at critical times as it has all season.
Highlanders 31 (F. Vainikolo, J. Rutledge, J Cowan, B. Smith, B. Murray tries; I. Dagg 3 cons), Hurricanes 33 (K. Lowe, M. Paterson, A. Cruden, T. Keats, M. Nonu tries; Cruden 4 cons). HT: 24-26.
