Highlanders record first win

It's too late to grab a play-off place, but the Highlanders have belatedly got their season off to a start, beating the Lions 29-20 at Carisbrook on Friday.

Paul Williams' magnificent solo try just after the interval sealed the win, but the home team made it much harder than it ought to have been, gifting their opponents three tries before sealing the win - and a bonus point - late on.

Fetu'u Vainikolo went close for the Otago side early on after a lovely flowing break from their own 22 before Johnny Leota crashed over for the opening try. James Wilson converted.

Jaco van Schalkwyk replied with a penalty, but the early flow of the game had been halted by a concussion injury to Hoani MacDonald.

However the Highlanders stretched their lead. From a scrum near the Lions line, Jimmy Cowan chucked the ball out to Leota on a straight angle for his second.

There was nothing the Lions could do about Williams' try. Craig Newby took a quick lineout to Williams who dummied and accelerated through the chasers, cutting a fine line all the way to the in-goal. Wilson made it 21-3 with the extras, and it really ought to have been game over.

Crashed

But the minds switched off, Vainikolo was yellow-carded for a late tackle, and back the Lions came.

Van Schalkwyk crashed over near the posts after the Lions had managed to retain possession on the front foot this time.

Then Gerhard Mostert stole a lineout and the ball went left to Rayno Benjamin, who flung it inside for Walter Venter to score.

Venter then broke away before offloading to Alberts near the line for the No.8 to crash over.

Van Schalkwyk converted his own try, but Vermaak could convert neither second nor third, and still the Lions trailed 21-20.

Gradually the Highlanders forwards took control once more - including a truly memorable 35m driven maul that resulted in a Wilson penalty.

And finally, with the Lions burnt out from the fightback, Aaron Bancroft nicked the home team all five points with a try in the corner.