The Hurricanes have come from behind to beat the Highlanders 31-28 in a nail-biter at Forsyth Barr Stadium.
As it happend - Highlanders vs Hurricanes
The match had a frantic start as both teams shared plenty of possession early on and tried to make the most of it, the Hurricanes were guilty of overplaying and trying too hard to find that perfect pass.
Highlander's flanker Shannon Frizell opened the scoring in the 19th minute after a great break from Luke Whitelock.
But the Hurricanes hit back almost immediately, Jordie Barrett playing a big part in the build-up before halfback TJ Perenara cruised over to level the score at 7-7.
The Highlanders continued to win penalties and dominated at lineout time, which is where their next try came from - Ash Dixon scoring off the back of a lineout drive.
Bad lineout throws and handling errors kept the ball out of the Hurricanes hands late in the first half, before a Tavita Li offload fell straight to Ardie Savea who ran 70 metres to level the scores once again at half-time.
A penalty kick from Beauden Barrett got the Hurricanes in front to start the second half.
Halfback Kayne Hammington scored for the Highlanders in the 54th minute after a dominant scrum from the hosts.
Their dominance up front continued over the next five minutes as the men from the south kept knocking on the door of the Hurricanes try line, that door swung open as flanker James Lentjes scored his first try of the night after a lineout, taking the score to 28 - 17.
Three minutes later the Hurricanes hit back - Ben Lam ran onto a ball from Beauden Barrett and busted through four tackles before passing it to Savea who ran in his second try of the night to get the visitors back to within four points.
Knock on's from both sides kept the game exciting before the form back in the country blew the game wide open. Ngani Laumape ran onto a Barrett pass to burst through and score what ended up being the match-winning try.
But the last 15 minutes were nothing short of exhilarating, edge of your seat type rugby.
The Highlanders turned down multiple shots at trying to tie the game in an attempt to score a winner - that didn't eventuate as heroic defence from the Hurricanes on their own line caused a mistake at lineout time for the hosts.
Replacement hooker Ash Dixon's throw four minutes after the hooter made its way to the Hurricanes side of the lineout and Finlay Christie kicked the ball out to seal the win for the Hurricanes - handing the Highlanders their first loss at Forsyth Barr Stadium in 15 matches.
Newshub.
