Tamaiti Williams scores the winning try during the Crusaders v Highlanders, Super Rugby Pacific match, Apollo Projects Stadium, Christchurch. Photo: Joseph Johnson/ActionPress
The Highlanders' play-off hopes are done after a 15-12 loss to the Crusaders in Christchurch. This was despite having enough possession, territory and shots at goal to win the game several times over - which is the second weekend in a row that's happened.
Not that the Crusaders will mind, although there will be some sore bodies after they were forced to make a monumental number of tackles from start to finish.
In the end, it was big Tamaiti Williams who was the hero for the home side, smashing his way over from a lineout drive with seven minutes to play in what was really the only opportunity the Crusaders had in the whole second half.
It left time for a frantic finish, with the Highlanders first denied by a brilliant turnover on his own line by Christian Lio-Willie, then Cam Millar shanked a relatively simple shot at goal to send the game to extra time.
In a way it was somewhat fitting that the game finished that way, as poor goal kicking had been a theme for the Highlanders all night. Earlier, Taine Robinson had sprayed a conversion and clanked a penalty into the posts, before being relieved by Millar only for the replacement to miss from halfway.
Earlier, Sevu Reece broke the Super Rugby try scoring record with one of the least aesthetically pleasing efforts of his prolific career, relying on the TMO to confirm that he'd grazed the line off a pick and go from about an inch out from the tryline.
Jonah Lowe answered back just on the break, which was just reward for a very busy performance, but really he should've had at least one more and the Highlanders the lead at the break. Robinson scored an excellent set piece try off a lineout after halftime, but that was as good as the Highlanders got as far as scoring went.
Jamie Joseph's side now host the Chiefs next weekend in a game that they will need to win to avoid coming last, which is deeply disappointing either way considering how good they looked after the first few games this year. Meanwhile, this result puts the Crusaders back on top of the table for now, however the Chiefs can take it back tomorrow night with a bonus point win over Moana Pasifika.
Read how the game unfolded with RNZ's live blog:
