A stunning 40-metre drop goal from replacement Bryn Gatland has earned the Highlanders a 28-27 win over the Chiefs in the opening game of Super Rugby Aotearoa in Dunedin.
Just minutes after it seemed the Chiefs may have escaped with the spoils - despite having trailed the majority of the contest - courtesy of a close-range Damian McKenzie drop goal, Gatland stopped up to return the favour from just inside his own 10m, sending the Forsyth Barr faithful into hysterics and earning dinner tables bragging rights over father and Chiefs coach Warren Gatland for at least the next decade.
It was an ending befitting of the occasion as both teams and the vocal thousands in attendance ensured the return of live sport in New Zealand was a memorable one, with the dark clouds of COVID-19 well and truly cleared.
Twice reduced to 14-men due to yellow cards to Vilimoni Koroi and Jona Nareki - both for dangerous tackles - the Highlanders rallied behind a staunch defensive effort and some excellent setpiece play to run in three tries to the Chiefs' two.
Maestro Aaron Smith was outstanding for the Highlanders, with the returning Rob Thompson a rock in the midfield, and No.8 Marino Mikaele-Tu'u a constant menace upfront.
As close and hard-fought as it was, the match was far from a classic. Both teams struggled with the new, stricter laws at the breakdown interpretations, as referee Paul Williams blew up a relentless stream of penalties in both directions that limited the flow of play.
The hosts opened the try-scoring in the 16th minute, using a rolling maul to excellent effect for Ash Dixon to come up with the spoils off the back of a tidal wave of blue charging over the chalk.
They extended that lead sxi minutes later, as Aaron Smith fired a flat pass to Rob Thompson on a superb line, with Sio Tomkinson streaking in support to score next to the posts.
The Chiefs responded with their first try in the 27th minute, with a well-worked team try that began with a Damian McKenzie raid down the right flank, and ended with Quinn Tupaea releasing winger Sean Wainui to run 22m on the opposite sideline to dive over unopposed.
The Highlanders were reduced to 14 men, when Vilimoni marked his Super Rugby debut with a dangerous tackle to be dealt a yellow card.
But ultimately no scoreboard damage was done, as they rallied to cross again on the stroke of halftime through Marino Mikaele-Nu'u to take a 22-16 lead into the break.
The second half was a much tighter affair. Both lines remained clean until the 72nd minute, when Cruden held up the defence to link with McKenzie, who made a deft pass over the top to Lienert-Brown to waltz over in the corner.
That set both the stage for the exchange of drop goals and the tone for what promises to be an electric 10 weeks of NZ derby rugby.
Highlanders 28 (Ash Dixon, Sio Tomkinson, Marino Mikaele Tu'u tries, Mitch Hunt con, 2 pens, Bryn Gatland drop goal) Chiefs 27 (Sean Wainui, Anton Lienert-Brown tries, McKenzie con, drop goal 4 pens) Halftime 22-16
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