Highlanders snap skid over Hurricanes

Updated May 13, 2011 20:05:00

The Otago Highlanders snapped a three-game losing streak with a 13-6 victory over fellow New Zealanders Wellington in their Super rugby clash in Invercargill on Friday.

The Highlanders scored the only try of the match, through full-back Ben Smith, while Lima Sopoaga added a conversion and two penalties for the home side whose defense and pressure at the breakdown caused problems for the Hurricanes throughout the game.

Aaron Cruden slotted two penalties for the Hurricanes, who welcomed back Ma'a Nonu and Piri Weepu. Scrum half Weepu had broken his leg and dislocated his ankle last October.

"It wasn't pretty but the conditions were pretty tough," Highlanders captain Jamie Mackintosh said of the driving rain and chilly temperatures in New Zealand's southernmost city.

"At times it was a pretty physical battle and like I said it may not have been pretty to watch but it was good fun to play ... it was bit of an old-fashioned battle."

The Highlanders had lost their three previous games, all to New Zealand opposition, though the victory moved them to 39 points.

While they remain third in the New Zealand conference they will still be in touch with the top six by the end of the weekend.

Hurricanes fly half Cruden had opened the scoring with a third-minute penalty and while both sides had opportunities to score more points, their defensive lines held out.

Smith scored the only try of the game in the 36th minute after scrum half Jimmy Cowan spotted there were no Hurricanes defenders behind a ruck, so he popped a delicate chip kick into space near the line, which the full-back brilliantly regathered and dived over.

Sopoaga added the conversion and then a penalty right on half-time to give the Highlanders a 10-3 lead at the break.

The fly half extended the lead to 10 points with his second penalty just after the break, though Cruden reduced that deficit shortly after with his second penalty.

"We were our own worst enemies, too many mistakes and probably let the other team into it," Hurricanes captain Andrew Hore said.

"It's pretty frustrating, we're close but it doesn't get any more fans to come and watch you if you don't win."

Highlanders: 13 (B Smith try; L Sopoaga conversion; 2 penalty goals)

Hurricanes: 6 (A Cruden 2 penalty goals)

- Reuters

Tags: sport, rugby-union, super-14, new-zealand

First posted May 13, 2011 19:56:00

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