HAMILTON, NEW ZEALAND – FEBRUARY 15: Chiefs Nathan Harris (L) is tackled by Highlanders Jackson Hemopo (R) during the Chiefs v Highlanders Super Rugby Round 1 match at FMG Stadium, Hamilton, on February 15, 2019 in Hamilton, New Zealand. (Photo by Michael Bradley/Getty Images)
Super Rugby result: Chiefs 27-30 Highlanders
Super Rugby delivered its first upset with the opening fixture as a 14-man Highlanders beat the Chiefs in Hamilton.
HAMILTON, NEW ZEALAND – FEBRUARY 15: Chiefs Nathan Harris (L) is tackled by Highlanders Jackson Hemopo (R) during the Chiefs v Highlanders Super Rugby Round 1 match at FMG Stadium, Hamilton, on February 15, 2019 in Hamilton, New Zealand. (Photo by Michael Bradley/Getty Images)
The Highlanders snuck a 30-27 victory away from home against their New Zealand rivals the Chiefs in Hamilton despite being reduced to 14 men in the second half.
The visitors started strongest and it looked like they had scored a try in the third minute when Liam Coltman burst over but the Tmo felt he hadn’t grounded the ball cleanly.
It took another ten minutes or so for the Highlanders to make their early dominance pay when Pari-Pari Parkinson powered over from short range.
Three unanswered Chiefs tries followed as the hosts made the most of their opportunities to take a 19-7 lead heading towards the halftime break. Tyler Ardron powered over from a scrum first before Angus Taavao-Matau showed good legs to get up and bash over after Bailyn Sullivan’s chip and chase.
The Third try was the result of some slick interplay that saw Etene Nanai-Seturo go over out wide.
Josh Ioane nailed a penalty before halftime to keep the Highlanders in it at 19-10 down at the break.
Ioane added another shortly after the break to make it a six point game but the Chiefs came back strongly.
The Chiefs dominated play for much of the second half and a great cross kick from Orbyn Leger allowed Nanai-Seturo to jog over in the corner.
A rumbling Highlanders attack soon brought them back into the contest as Shannon Frizell slammed the ball down over the line to make it a single score game.
On 67 minutes the Highlanders were dealt a cruel blow when Sio Tomkinson was ruled to have executed a dangerous head high shot and was given a straight red. From the subsequent penalty Stephen Donald nailed the kick and made it 27-20 heading into the last ten minutes.
The Chiefs couldn’t keep the Highlanders from attacking though and when they won a penalty on 70 minutes they set up a grandstand finish by making it 27-23.
The Highlanders were relentless even with just fourteen men and the Chiefs were blown away by the conastant attacks. Aaron Smith crossed for the score that gave the Highlanders the lead and Ioane added the two that meant the Chiefs couldn’t win it with a penalty or drop goal.
The visitors would shut out the game brilliantly to earn a hard-fought and morale boosting 30-27 win to start their 2019 Super Rugby campaign.
