The coin has come down the wrong way again for the Highlanders as the side went down 31-28 to the Hurricanes at Forsyth Barr Stadium last night.
The side racked up its fourth straight defeat but none of them have been by more than seven points.
Last night, the home team was up by 11 points with 25 minutes left but it could not put a lively Hurricanes side away.
There was a chance near the end for the Highlanders and the side was deep on attack but conceded a scrum penalty with less than five minutes to go. It then threw a forward pass when it had created space.
After the fulltime hooter had gone, the Highlanders had three attacking lineouts 5m out but, in a sign of the season, just could not quite execute and coughed the ball up.
The Hurricanes managed to make the plays that mattered, scoring a quick couple of tries which got them back into the game.
The home side just lacked that bit of composure and X-factor when it mattered as the Hurricanes held on for the win.
Best for the home team were Ben Smith and Tei Walden. Up front, Shannon Frizell and Josh Dickson stood out.
But Savea was the stand-out player in the game, with his pace and power giving the Hurricanes just enough to bag the victory.
The Highlanders scored the first two tries of the second half. Just after the 50 minute mark, the home team opted for a scrum from a penalty under the shadow of the Hurricanes goalposts.
After plenty of restarts, the Highlanders scrum went into the ascendancy. The side had the penalty but halfback Kayne Hammington picked the ball up from the back of the scrum and with a quick step went under the posts.
James Lentjes then scored from a lineout drive and the Highlanders were 11 points up and had the wind in their sails.
But the breeze immediately swung the other way as a strong run from winger Ben Lam led to Ardie Savea getting his second try.
That set up a grandstand finish in the final 20 minutes.
The opening quarter of the game had plenty of energy and enterprise and both sides could have dotted down at least twice.
The Highlanders, though, had the first say when big blindside flanker Shannon Frizell went over. The Highlanders a minute earlier had the ball over the line in the hands of big lock Tom Franklin but it was ruled out for a forward pass.
Frizell though could not be stopped as he scored his fifth try of the season when he barged over in the tackle off a ruck right by the line.
The lead did not last long as Hurricanes halfback TJ Perenara replied with a sniper's try after 23 minutes.
The Highlanders, though, went back into the lead when replacement hooker Ash Dixon scored. The Highlanders won a lineout 5m out and a very slow rumble got Dixon to the tryline and he went over.
The Highlanders had been starting to get some ascendancy as halftime approached, but Savea stole a try with two minutes to go in the half.
Highlanders winger Tevita Li threw a pass when tackled and Savea popped up to grab the ball and run 50m to score. The conversion from Beauden Barrett tied the game up 14-all at the break.