Crusaders 14 Highlanders 26
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An inspired Highlanders conjured up the boilover of the Super 14 rugby season with a 26-14 defeat of the Crusaders in Christchurch tonight.
In a performance that will send tremors through the Crusaders a week out from the semifinals, the Highlanders played with more desire and made far
fewer mistakes to stun their bigger southern rivals at AMI Stadium.
The visitors scored three tries to one, all in the first half to lead 23-14 at the break.
The expected fightback from the multiple Super rugby champions never eventuated. They were dominated in the second spell and kept scoreless.
It was easily the best performance of a difficult season for the Highlanders, whose two previous wins came against the lowly Lions and Cheetahs.
In contrast it was just the Crusaders' second loss, the other coming a month ago against the Chiefs.
However, since then they have been unconvincing in beating the Blues, Sharks and Queensland Reds and tonight's result was a significant drop from their high standards.
Unlike last week in Brisbane when they overcame a 21-8 deficit against the Reds, the second half was a listless one from the Crusaders, who melted in the face of an urgent Highlanders defence.
Loose forwards Adam Thomson, Tim Boys and captain Craig Newby - playing his last game for the Highlanders before leaving for Leicester - were irresistible and outplayed their big-name rivals.
That was also the case in the halves, where Highlanders Toby Morland and Daniel Bowden were a class above opposites Andy Ellis and Daniel Carter.
Halfback Morland employed short kicks to good effect and his team otherwise largely kept the ball in hand.
Tonight's winning margin would have been greater but fullback Mike Delany landed just four shots at goal from nine in a mixed goalkicking return.
Whoever the Crusaders host in next week's semifinal - and that will be determined in later games this weekend - they should now arrive in Christchurch with a degree of confidence.
There was no sign of the drama that was to follow when Crusaders hooker Corey Flynn scored a try in the fifth minute from a textbook lineout maul.
However, two minutes later a Carter crossfield kick went horribly wrong when it was gobbled up by bursting Highlanders winger Paul Williams, who powered 30 to score.
Both goalkickers missed the conversions but Carter and Delany made it up for it with two penalties each to leave the score at 11-11 with half an hour gone.
The visitors then made their move with a two-try burst.
The first went to Morland after some elusive buildup work from Bowden while in-form flanker Thomson was driven over soon afterwards.
Carter reduced the deficit to nine points with a penalty on the stroke of halftime.
The Highlanders missed two chances to increase the lead when Bowden was held up over the tryline after another irresistible attack and Delany missed a lengthy penalty attempt.
Delany got his radar right with a penalty in the only points of the second half with 20min remaining.
He missed two further attempts but it mattered not as the Crusaders struggled to create any attacking momentum.
The hosts became increasingly frustrated with the rulings of Southland referee Keith Brown and ultimately paid for it when captain Richie McCaw was shown a yellow card for an innocuous offence with 10 minutes remaining.
The Crusaders had won the previous seven meetings between the sides and hadn't lost at home to the Highlanders since the first year of Super rugby in 1996.
Highlanders 26 (Paul Williams, Toby Morland, Adam Thomson tries; Mike Delany 3 pen, con) Crusaders 14 (Corey Flynn tries; Daniel Carter 3 pen). Halftime: 23-14.
- NZPA
