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Highlanders triumph in late charge

Sat, 23 Jan 2010 10:21

The Highlanders produced a memorable late charge to overcame a sizeable deficit and beat the Chiefs 31-24 in a Super 14 pre-season fixture in Dunedin on Saturday.

After the Chiefs led for the first three quarters of the game in warm conditions at Carisbrook, the Highlanders claimed victory with their comeback in the final quarter.

The summer conditions, combined with the early season rustiness and the fact that both teams employed a total of 27 players in a four-quarter affair, ensured that the game lacked real intent.

In the first quarter the Chiefs went out to a 19-5 lead - with three tries and two conversions. 

Powerful hooker Aled de Malmanche scored the first try for the Chiefs in 2010, followed by tries from two Chiefs wider training group players, wing Jason Hona and prop Hikairo Forbes.

The second quarter was a quiet time for the Chiefs, with no points scored - but the Highlanders inched closer with another try, making it 19-10 at half-time.

The youngest member of the Chiefs, 20-year-old fullback Tim Nanai-Williams scored a try for the Chiefs in the third quarter and the Highlanders managed a try and a conversion in that spell. 

In the final quarter the Chiefs did not score, but the Highlanders crossed the line twice as well as slotting two conversions to snatch victory.

Two of their five tries went to transplanted Canterbury wing James Paterson, while the others went to scrumhalf Sean Romans, flank John Hardie and prop Bronson Murray. Flyhalf Matt Berquist slotted three conversions.

Fullback Tim Nanai-Williams, wing Jason Hona, prop Hikairo Forbes and hooker Aled de Malmanche crossed for the Chiefs while flyhalf Trent Renata landed two conversions.

There appeared to be no serious injuries, although Highlanders No.8 Nasi Manu left the ground favouring his shoulder.

The Chiefs' final pre-season fixture is a home game being played against the Hurricanes at Rotorua on Friday, February 5.

The Highlanders now head to Fiji, where they will play a Suva President's XV in Lautoka next Saturday, January 30.

Scorers:

For the Highlanders:
Tries: Paterson 2, Romans, Hardie, Murray
Cons: Berquist 3

For the Chiefs:
Tries: De Malmanche, Hona, Forbes, Nanai-Williams
Cons: Renata 2

Teams:

Highlanders: 15 Robbie Robinson, 14 Ryan Shortland, 13 Brett Mather, 12 Jason Shoemark, 11 Fetu'u Vainikolo, 10 Michael Hobbs, 9 Scott Cowan, 8 Steven Setephano, 7 Tim Boys, 6 John Hardie, 5 Hayden Triggs, 4 Josh Bekhuis, 3 Bronson Murray, 2 Jason Macdonald, 1 Jamie Mackintosh (captain).
Replacements - from: Jason Rutledge, Chris King, Hoani Matenga, Tom Donnelly, Nasi Manu, Alando Soakai, Sean Romans, Matt Berquist, Chris Noakes, James Paterson, Israel Dagg, Ben Smith.

Chiefs: 15 Tim Nanai-Williams, 14 Jason Hona, 13 Richard Kahui, 12  Jackson Willison, 11 Dwayne Sweeney, 10 Trent Renata, 9 Junior Poluleuligaga, 8 Sione Lauaki (captain), 7 Luke Braid, 6 Colin Bourke, 5 Culum Retallick, 4 Romana Graham, 3 Ben Afeaki, 2 Aled de Malmanche, 1 Hikairo Forbes.
Replacements - from: Vern Kamo, Sona Taumalolo, Nathan White, Jack Lam, Jarad Hoeata, Kevin O'Neill, Toby Lynn, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Callum Bruce, Phil Burleigh, Siale Piutau.

Referee: Keith Brown

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