Jason Rutledge of the Highlanders is tackled by Issac Ross of the Chiefs during their round two Super 15 match. Photo / Getty Images
A second-half momentum shift saw the Highlanders battle back from a seven-point halftime deficit to down the Chiefs 23-13 in a Super 15 rugby match in Dunedin tonight.
The Highlanders forward pack laid the base for the win with an authoritative performance, backed up by some incisive running from the
backs when it counted.
MATCH STATS
The Chiefs looked a different team from the one which lost 20-28 to the Brumbies in Canberra last week.
The haphazard defence was gone, the set piece was solid and the handling vastly improved.
Chiefs coach Ian Foster had made eight changes to his starting 15 from last week, and the newlook backline - sparked into action by nippy halfback Tawera Kerr-Barlow - looked dangerous from the outset.
Delany, starting in place of last week's opening first five-eighth Stephen Donald, crossed for the game's first try after 25 minutes.
After some good work from Liam Messam and Mils Muliaina in creating the break, Delany sliced through the last line of defence to touch down near the posts.
He converted to give the Chiefs a 13-6 lead which they held to the changeover.
The Highlanders came out strongly in the second half, rewarded for some constant pressure on the Chiefs line when No 8 Nasi Manu took the quick tap, caught the defence flat-footed, and powered over the line.
Robbie Robinson, on after Sopoaga suffered a shoulder injury, added the extras and the home team drew level three minutes into the second stanza.
Things looked even brighter for the Highlanders with 20 minutes to go after Kerr-Barlow was yellow carded for deliberately slowing the ball.
Robinson slotted the penalty to give the Highlanders a narrow lead, which they extended in the 74th minute when the ball was moved wide and at pace for winger Kade Poki to score.
With Robinson's accurate boot adding the conversion, the Highlanders looked assured holding on for the win, racking up their second win from as many matches.
- NZPA
