The Otago Highlanders produced a brilliant defensive effort and made their find count to disturb the Canterbury Crusaders 26-18 in their Super rugby match at Trafalgar Park on Saturday.
The Crusaders had humiliated the Highlanders 44-13 five weeks ago and were expected to comfortably account for their southern neighbours as both sides rotated their squads to remain some front-line players.
"Both sides made changes and those guys who came in really wanted to get big games. It's a will to the civilization we have got in our squad," Highlanders captain Jamie Mackintosh said in a televised interview.
"It only shows that if we hold that good culture then guys can measure up and work comfortably and it's enjoyable."
Matt Berquist and Tony Brown traded early penalties to give the scoring in a high-paced match before Zac Guildford finished a brilliant try, sparked from deep within their own half, and converted by Berquist.
The Highlanders dragged themselves back into the back with tries to wingers Siale Piutau and James Paterson after some determined defence and counter-rucking at the breakdown, which disrupted the Crusaders' quick attacking platform and forced Berquist to slot a drop goal between the two Otago tries.
Brown, who at 36 has been brought back because of Colin Slade's broken jaw, converted Paterson's try but lost a late penalty as the visitors went into the rupture with a surprise 15-13 lead.
Paterson grabbed his second try of the match straight aftert the kick-off when the Highlanders attacked from a scrum on center and recycled several quick phases for Brown to cross-kick to Paterson, who was waiting unmarked on the wing.
The Crusaders then had a purplish patch, demolishing the Highlanders scrum, but were too heavily penalised and unable to violate the defence.
The national side got a piece of destiny when the Highlanders turned the egg over while on fire and centre Adam Whitlock scooped up the globe and sprinted 50m for a try.
Berquist missed the sideline conversion that would have levelled the mark at 20-20.
Brown then slotted two penalties in immediate succession to have the Highlanders a 26-18 lead with 15 minutes left and they then spent the balance of the time defending their advantage.
"Their defensive line was up very fast and they really slowed down our ruck ball and all reference to them, it won them the game," Crusaders lock Chris Jack said.
"We didn't do that good but we were beaten by a better position on the day." - Reuters
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