The Highlanders eked out a win in Invercargill last night, beating the Brumbies 26-20 and chalking up their fourth victory of the season.
The home side finished in front, despite having little territory and not having a lot of opportunities to put together anything on attack.
It got close three times in the second half but desperate defence and some inaccurate passing cost the team the chance to boost the scoreboard.
But good sides win games when they do not play that well, so maybe this was a sign of maturity from the Highlanders.
The side battled to hang on to the ball and its set piece in particular was too messy.
The match was finally sealed by the Highlanders five minutes from the end when captain Jamie Mackintosh barged over from a ruck, after the Highlanders strung a few phases together.
The Brumbies replied with a try to replacement halfback Pat Phibbs with a minute left but the Highlanders were home by then.
The Highlanders were handicapped by the loss of replacement first five-eighth Tony Brown 11 minutes from the end when he was yellow-carded by referee Stu Dickinson for an indiscretion at a ruck.
But the Highlanders hung tough and won the game through a solid determined defence and winning turnovers at crucial times.
The Brumbies would have been disappointed with their return, as they almost drowned in possession but made costly mistakes.
Best for the Highlanders were winger Kade Poki, No 8 Nasi Mani, hooker Jason Rutledge, while lock Tom Donnelly got around the field, although he needs to work on his combination with halfback Jimmy Cowan at lineout time.
Mackintosh had another big game and continued to show his mobility.
Although the Highlanders led at the break, it was a far from a perfect performance by the home side in the first half.
There were too many sloppy passes and the side was stuck in its own territory for two-thirds of the opening 40 minutes.
The Highlanders defended well in that opening period and kept a rather one-dimensional Brumbies side in check when up against their line.
Matt Giteau missed two easy penalties inside the first 15 minutes and was made to pay when the Highlanders put the first points on the board.
Poki picked up a loose ball and proceeded to beat three defenders and skip away.
The ball then found itself to Cowan and he cleverly chipped wide.
Rutledge was steaming up the fat man's track and picked up the ball to score.
Then straight from the kick-off the Southland rake was in again.
The Highlanders spun the ball wide and found the gap on the outside.
Fullback Ben Smith was lowered just short of the line and prop Chris King showed some nice hands to slip the ball to the bald hooker, who grabbed his second five-pointer in two minutes.
Colin Slade converted the second try from the sideline.
He then added a penalty after 25 minutes to put the Highlanders well clear.
Giteau made up for his earlier penalty misses when he sliced through Highlanders props Chris King and Jamie Mackintosh to score after half an hour.
He found his kicking radar with the conversion to keep the Brumbies handy at the break.
• In the other Super 15 match played last night, the Waratahs beat the Chiefs 23-16 in Sydney.
Super 15
- The scores
• Highlanders - 26
Jason Rutledge 2, Jamie Mackintosh tries, Colin Slade pen, con, Tony Brown 2 pen
• Brumbies - 20
Matt Giteau, Andrew Smith, Pat Phibbs tries, Giteau pen, con.
• Halftime: 15-7
• Crowd: 6500
