Highlanders vs Blues
It was set to be a thrilling clash between the Highlanders and the Blues in Dunedin, as the sides competed for the esteemed Gordon Hunter trophy.
Kurt Eklund nearly scored off a line out early on for the Blues, but the TMO replay showed Aaron Smith held up the ball with his boot! Two scrums followed, and no8 Akira Ioane eventually smashed over Scott Gregory to score- 0-5.
Shortly after, the Blues scored another great try, as Beauden Barrett cross-kicked to Caleb Clarke- who bounced Josh Ioane and fed the ball inside to Rieko, who then passed inside to scrum half Fin Christie to score. 0-12.
‘Landers 10 Ioane then kicked a penalty goal before his team made their way down the field and Ash Dixon scored from a driving maul on the Blues’ 5m line. 10-12.
Around the half hour point, the home side fumbled the ball and flanker Dalton Papali’i ran 70m to score- only for the try to be ruled out for another player’s offside intervention. Ioane converted the penalty kick for the Highlanders- 13-12.
The Blues didn’t let this faze them though, as they immediately got down the other end and after some great play from Barrett, Clarke and Christie, centre TJ Faiane dived over in the corner for the try- 13-17.
Ioane kicked another penalty goal for the ‘Landers after a Blues offside, bringing the scores to 16-17. The away side weren’t done yet though, as they got down the other end and picked and drove from close range until prop Ofa Tu’ungafasi barged over for the score. HT- Highlanders 16- 24 Blues
The Blues came flying out of the blocks after half time, as Barrett sent a long ball to flanker Tony Lamborn on the wing, who offloaded inside to Clarke who in turn popped the ball to Christie for the try. 16-29.
There was a good period of defence by the Highlanders on their own try line next, but the Blues managed to claim a penalty through Barrett in front of the posts- 16-32.
The home side spent the next twenty or so minutes trying to break the solid Blues defence- and the eventually succeeded. After several scrums and a yellow card, flanker Shannon Frizell crashed over the line, closing the scoreline to 21-32. Despite some energetic final play by the Highlanders, this was the final score. FT- Highlanders 21-32 Blues
The match lived up to expectations as tries, big hits and drama was all exhibited by both sides. The Blues close in to the Crusaders with a bonus-point win whilst the Highlanders’ hopes of finishing in the top end of the table are diminished.
