Despite the Royals heading in on top of the table and unbeaten, with the shield being up for grabs, this would be a tough test.
Kings made the best possible start to the challenge though, as Madi Lobb fired home inside the first three minutes.
City didn’t panic though and after working a couple of penalty corners, it was one that went slightly array that got them back on level terms.
After it broke down on the top, Hayley Cox went to a good old-fashioned straight hit, and it caught the Royals off-guard.
The game was surprisingly open, with chances at both ends kept out by Rachael Lecky and Lily Le Brun in the second quarter, before Lobb stuck away her second just before halftime.
City were not going to go down without a fight though, again equalising at penalty corner time.
This one was far more routine, a spot deflection from Tessa Jopp giving Lecky next to no chance.
Back on level terms, the Highlanders really began to turn the screw, dominating the rest of the third quarter and continuing it on into the fourth.
They wanted the win, but equally, a draw would have been good enough for them to retain the shield.
They had all the territory to start the final stanza, but one chance against the run of play was all Kings would need.
They got the ball down into the attacking 25, before a hopeful diagonal took the faintest of touches off Chloe Deerness’ stick, on its way into the back of the net.
There was still 10 to play, but the Highlanders were beaten this time, failing to properly test Lecky before time expired.
It was jubilation for the Royals, who add the shield to their earlier Toast Cup victory.
Elsewhere in the premier women’s grade, Momona were again off the boil, but they still chalked up a 4-1 win over the University Stingrays.
In the late game, a late Ella Rogers goal saw the University Huskies sneak to a 1-0 win over the Taieri Tigers.
Due to scheduling changes, there was also a shield game in the premier men’s competition, but there was to be no boilover, as the Taieri Tuataras pounded the University Whales 4-0.
It was a fairly dour game, but James Nicolson bagged a hat-trick to ease his side home.
The other two games were hopelessly one-sided, as the Albany Alligators registered 15 goals again, downing the Panthers 15-0 as Jack Cotton got himself another five-goal haul.
Down in Southland, it was a special day for the Nation family, as 15-year-old Max Nation scored a hat-trick on premier debut, playing alongside his father James, as the Kings United Cobras cruised to a 9-0 win over the Barbarians.
By Nicholas Friedlander
