A late try saw the Highlanders battle to an 18-13 win over the Brumbies in Canberra on Saturday. MARIETTE ADAMS reports.
The result ultimately went the way most would have expected, but the Highlanders were behind for 70 minutes, before getting their act together against the hosts, who troubled them for large parts of this contest.
The Brumbies made the most of whatever little ball possession they had, using brilliant set-piece play and ferocious contesting at the breakdown, coupled with concrete defence, but in the end they came up short.
In stark contrast, the injury-hit Highlanders controlled possession and territory, but failed to capitalise on said dominance, especially in the opening stanza. They top the charts for attacking kicks in the competition, but in Canberra their use of the kick as an attacking weapon was reduced to the bare minimum.
However, the visitors managed to strike a telling blow in the 73rd minute, when prop Aki Seiuli barged over from a charged-down kick inside the Brumbies' 22.
Stephen Larkham’s side withstood an early onslaught before they raced out to a 10-0 lead around the 30-minute mark. Flyhalf Wharenui Hawera, a product of the Highlanders’ feeder club Southland, landed a 42m penalty for the Brumbies, followed by a try from Chris Alcock.
There was some respite for the Highlanders at the stroke of half-time when debutant Patelesio Tomkinson went over in the corner to reduce the deficit to five at the break.
The Brumbies were first to score after the resumption, but complacency crept into their game, allowing the Highlanders a window of opportunity. The visitors scored 13 unanswered points via a converted try, sandwiched between two penalties from replacement flyhalf Marty Banks to hit the front for the first time.
Gifted a golden opportunity to win it at the end with a scrum 5m from the tryline, after the Highlanders carried the ball into the in-goal area, the Brumbies conceded possession in contact and the Highlanders cleared their lines. The hosts won a penalty and set the lineout, but again solid defence by the Highlanders stalled the driving maul to keep out the Brumbies.
Brumbies – Try: Chris Alcock. Conversion: Wharenui Hawera. Penalties: Hawera (2).
Highlanders – Tries: Patelesio Tomkinson, Aki Seiuli. Conversion: Marty Banks. Penalties: Banks (2).
Brumbies – 15 Aidan Toua, 14 Henry Speight, 13 Tevita Kuridrani, 12 Kyle Godwin, 11 James Dargaville, 10 Wharenui Hawera, 9 Joe Powell, 8 Jordan Smiler, 7 Chris Alcock, 6 Scott Fardy, 5 Sam Carter (c), 4 Blake Enever, 3 Allan Alaalatoa, 2 Robbie Abel, 1 Nathan Mayhew.
Subs: 16 Saia Fainga'a, 17 Scott Sio, 18 Ben Alexander, 19 Rory Arnold, 20 Tom Staniforth, 21 Lolo Fakaosilea, 22 De Wet Roos, 23 Jordan Jackson-Hope.
Highlanders – 15 Ben Smith (c), 14 Patelesio Tomkinson, 13 Malakai Fekitoa, 12 Richard Buckman, 11 Patrick Osborne, 10 Fletcher Smith, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Luke Whitelock, 7 Dillon Hunt, 6 Elliot Dixon, 5 Tom Franklin, 4 Alex Ainley, 3 Siate Tokolahi, 2 Liam Coltman, 1 Daniel Lienert-Brown.
Subs: 16 Greg Pleasants-Tate, 17 Aki Seiuli, 18 Siosuia Halanukonuka, 19 Joe Wheeler, 20 Gareth Evans, 21 Kayne Hammington, 22 Marty Banks, 23 Matt Faddes.
Photo: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images
