Malakai Fekitoa scored the solitary try as the Highlanders held on for a 16-12 win over the Blues in Auckland on Saturday.
The Highlanders have their first win of the Super Rugby season, but there was very little else to celebrate as they came up trumps in a drab and dire affair that was most uncharacteristic for a New Zealand derby.
The Landers made an error-strewn start to proceedings, with four early handling errors – which included Fekitoa losing the ball over the tryline – initially stifling their early momentum. They also suffered an early injury blow when influential winger Waisake Naholo was forced from the field.
However, the early endeavour from the visitors was eventually rewarded when Fekitoa made up for the earlier missed opportunity when he scored in the corner to help take the Landers into a 10-0 lead after the opening quarter.
During an uninspiring second quarter, errors continued to flow, with the Highlanders finishing the half having made a whopping 16 handling errors, while the Blues committed five.
Two penalties to Blues flyhalf Ihaia West cut the deficit to four points at the break, while the two pivots traded another penalty each in the first 10 minutes after the restart as play continued to meander along without much to write home about.
Nevertheless, the encounter looked set for a thrilling finish when Blues replacement Piers Francis slotted another penalty to make it a one-point ball game, with just over 10 minutes to play.
However, a Marty Banks penalty provided a little breathing room for the Highlanders, and although the Blues had a late attacking opportunity in the red zone, it ended with a handling error that rather aptly epitomised the match.
Blues – Penalties: Ihaia West (3), Piers Francis.
Highlanders – Try: Malakai Fekitoa. Conversion: Lima Sopoaga. Penalties: Sopoaga (2), Marty Banks.
Blues – 15 Michael Collins, 14 Matt Duffie, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 George Moala, 11 Rene Ranger, 10 Ihaia West, 9 Augustine Pulu, 8 Murphy Taramai, 7 Blake Gibson, 6 Jerome Kaino, 5 Patrick Tuipulotu, 4 Jimmy Tupou, 3 Charlie Faumuina, 2 James Parsons (c), 1 Pauliasi Manu.
Subs: 16 Matt Moulds, 17 Sam Prattley, 18 Ofa Tu’ungafasi, 19 Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, 20 Akira Ioane/Kara Pryor, 21 Billy Guyton, 22 Piers Francis, 23 Melani Nanai.
Highlanders – 15 Richard Buckman, 14 Waisake Naholo, 13 Malakai Fekitoa, 12 Rob Thompson, 11 Tevita Li, 10 Lima Sopoaga, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Luke Whitelock, 7 Elliot Dixon (c), 6 Gareth Evans, 5 Tom Franklin, 4 Alex Ainley, 3 Siosuia Halanukonuka, 2 Liam Coltman, 1 Daniel Lienert-Brown.
Subs: 16 Sekonia Pole, 17 Aki Seiuli, 18 Siate Tokolahi, 19 Joe Wheeler, 20 Jackson Hemopo, 21 Dillon Hunt, 22 Kayne Hammington, 23 Marty Banks.
Photo: Dave Rowland/Getty Images
