The Highlanders got back to winning ways last night, with a 35-31 win over the Hurricanes at Forsyth Barr Stadium, after leading 18-9 at the break.
In a game where the whistle dominated for long periods, the Highlanders put together a one-two punch early in the second half to win the match.
The Hurricanes came back at the end but the home side just managed to hang on, though it had the odd brain explosion.
These sort of games - close, with ordinary team work on display - often come down to key individual moments.
The Highlanders provided a couple - centre Malakai Fekitoa put a huge hit on his opposite Conrad Smith just after halftime while replacement flanker TJ Ioane gained a penalty when the Hurricanes were deep on attack and were looking likely for a comeback.
It was not a great game - more than 20 penalties littered throughout the game saw to that - but the Highlanders made fewer mistakes and had greater respect for the ball.
Almost straight after Fekitoa's big hit, the Highlanders scored two tries within five minutes which gave them a lead which could not be run down.
Highlanders fullback and co-captain Ben Smith received the ball at halfway and - only like he can - he ran the ball up the middle and broke straight through the Hurricanes defence.
He shifted the ball on to halfback Aaron Smith who linked with second five-eighth Phil Burleigh.
Burleigh juggled the ball but held on to it and dived under the bar.
Lima Sopoaga added the conversion and then quickly slotted a penalty and the home team had a handy lead.
It then totally skipped clear when Hurricanes second five-eighth Hadleigh Parkes threw a poor pass and winger Patrick Osborne swallowed it hook, line and sinker and sprinted 45m to score.
Sopoaga's conversion gave the home side a 23-point lead with just over a quarter of the game left.
The Hurricanes came back and got close but it was too big a mountain to climb.
Best for the Highlanders were the two Smiths, Sopoaga for his goal kicking - though his seven penalties was not a franchise record - and up front lock Joe Wheeler was busy.
The Highlanders came out well at the start of the match and it rained penalties in the first half - 13 in all.
In what was a forgettable first 40 minutes, Sopoaga slotted six penalties as referee Nick Briant took centre stage.
Hurricanes first five-eighth Beauden Barrett also got in on the act with three goals of his own, as the match became a goal kicking display.
Briant could hardly be blamed for the stop-start nature of the first half as both teams gave away some dumb penalties. It was under-5 stuff at times as players seemed to forget where the offside line was.
The Hurricanes were lucky to finish the first half with 14 men after lock Mark Reddish knocked the ball down when the home team had a promising attack developing with five minutes left before halftime.
The Hurricanes wore black arm bands in a tribute to former coach Frank Oliver, who passed away earlier this week.
A moment's silence was held at the start of the game to honour Oliver while retired Highlander Buxton Popoali'i made an appearance in front of the crowd at halftime, after heart surgery earlier this month, which had forced him to hang up his boots.
Super 15: The scores
Highlanders ... 35
Phil Burleigh, Patrick Osborne tries; Lima Sopoaga 2 con, 7 pen
Hurricanes ... 31
Beauden Barrett 2, Ben Franks tries; Barrett 2 con, 4 pen
Halftime: 18-9 Highlanders
Crowd: 11,259
