HBen Smith had yet another fine game at fullback for the Source: ROSS SETFORD / AAP
The Highlanders built a 23-0 half-time lead then held out a rampant second half comeback from South Africa's Lions to claim a deeply contentious 23-22 win in Super Rugby on Saturday.
The Lions scored four second-half tries to storm back into the match but replacement flyhalf Elton Jantjies missed the sideline conversion of their fourth try, after the full-time siren, to deny the Johannesburg-based side a miraculous comeback win.
Jantjies' attempt to convert Courtnall Skosan's late try, which could have provided the winning points of the match, drifted just wide of the posts as referee Angus Gardner sounded the final whistle. But Jantjies was clearly entitled to a second attempt as the Highlanders had charged early and the match ended on that note of controversy.
Winger Richard Buckman scored two first half tries to spur the Highlanders to what seemed an unassailable half-time lead. He had his first try after only two minutes, from a move which appeared to contain two forward passes, and flyhalf Hayden Parker's sideline conversion gave the Highlanders an early 7-0 lead.
Buckman scored again in the 37th minute, showing searing pace to win a kick and chase contest with the Lions defence, and replacement Gareth Evans also scored in a three minute spell immediately before half-time to give the Highlanders a weighty 23-0 lead at the break.
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The Highlanders seemed in control of the match at half-time but the Lions significantly changed their tactics in the second half and forced their way back into the match as the home team tired. They controlled possession through well-organised forward drives from lineouts and they began to intrude more regularly into Highlanders' territory with an effective pick-and-go style of play.
Scrumhalf Faf de Klerk scored their first try three minutes into the second spell, giving them a surge of confidence, and they followed up with tries to centre Lionel Mapoe in the 66th minute, Armand van der Merwe in the 70th and Skosan in the 79th to strip away the Highlanders' advantage.
Skosan's brilliant try, from a flicked-on pass by Jantjies, cut the Highlanders' lead to a single point and gave the Lions the chance to win the match with Jantjies' conversion. He was clearly distracted when the Highlanders charged his kick and he struck the ball across the posts. The Lions protested but referee Gardner declined to allow him a second attempt.
That decision meant Lions suffered the second-straight defeat on their tour of Australia and New Zealand and their 44th loss in 47 matches outside South Africa since Super Rugby began.
The Highlanders' sixth win in 10 games hauled them back inside the top six playoffs zone, pending the outcome of other matches in this weekend's 13th round.
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