Rugby: Highlanders hold out Hurricanes

John Schwalger of the Hurricanes is held back in a maul. Photo / Getty Images

Highlanders 13 Hurricanes 6
The Highlanders picked up their second win over the Hurricanes this season, taking out a low-scoring Super 15 rugby match 13-6 in Invercargill tonight.

The loss cements the Hurricanes at the bottom of the New Zealand conference, with just three wins from 12 games.

Hurricanes first five-eighth Aaron Cruden opened the scoring with a penalty in the third minute, as both teams struggled with handling errors in steady rain early on.

Super 15 standings

Given the sodden conditions and slippery ball, it was no surprise both teams opted to kick for field position but the Hurricanes looked unconvincing under the high ball.

The Highlanders continued to pound their line but to no avail, and had to wait until the 30 minute mark for their first real chance.

No 8 Nasi Manu went on the rampage, breaking through the Hurricanes defence only for halfback Chris Eaton to dislodge the ball in the tackle over the line and deny the try.

However, two minutes later Highlanders fullback Ben Smith latched onto a perfect Cowan chip kick from an attacking scrum to score the game's first try.

After a less than impressive start to his kicking game, Sopoaga came good to slot the conversion, following that up with a penalty right on the halftime whistle to give the Highlanders a 10-3 lead going into the break.

Smith continued his impressive form in the second spell, finding the sideline with some raking kicks and always looking threatening on attack.

Cowan too impressed with a sharp game, kicking with intelligence and running with purpose

For the Hurricanes, the long awaited return of All Blacks Piri Weepu and Ma'a Nonu offered some consolation.

Nonu, out with a fractured eye socket since late April, started at second five-eighth and added real punch to the Hurricanes backline while Weepu was solid after nearly six months off with a badly broken ankle.

The match descended into something of an arm-wrestle, with a penalty apiece maintaining the Highlanders' narrow lead.

The home team defence held strong against some intense Hurricanes pressure in the closing five minutes.

Cruden's placekicking tightened the screws as fulltime closed, and the Highlanders were stretched to the limit defending a series of penalties right to the final whistle.

HIGHLANDERS 13 (Ben Smith try Lima Sopoaga con 2 pens) bt HURRICANES 6 (Aaron Cruden 2 pens) at Carisbrook Stadium. Referee: Vinny Munro.

- NZPA