The Highlanders' 26-22 loss to the Lions was a match which will not linger long in the memory, especially for home fans, who were forced to stomach a loss to a limited Lions side.
The Highlanders were just too inaccurate in what they did and the botched lineouts and missed touch finders haunted the side at the business end of the game.
No 8 Nasi Manu said in the end the Lions were just more desperate.
"We're pretty gutted. We needed to win tonight but they just wanted it more. When we had them under pressure we made crucial errors," Manu said.
"Maybe we were trying to throw too many 50-50 balls when we should have held on to it. They were aggressive at the breakdown, really contested it, and we let them off the hook."
The Highlanders' were still sound at the breakdown but the Lions slowed the ball down enough to upset the home side's pattern, while referee Jonathon White found plenty of infringements.
What he was not quite so quick at was handing out yellow cards. With 10 penalties in and around the breakdown in the first half he needed to send someone to cool their heels to get both sides more disciplined.
Manu conceded maybe the side had taken the cellar dwelling opponent too lightly.
"It shows you we just can not take any game lightly. Maybe it is a mental thing. We tried not to, but maybe we did."
The Highlanders started the game all right and scored their only try after 16 minutes, when second five eighth Shaun Treeby cut back on the angle from a 5m scrum and went over.
The rest of the half was dominated by penalties and the Highlanders led 16-9 at the break.
But the Lions were growing in confidence and tied up the game with a try eight minutes into the second half when big No 8 Josh Strauss barged over from a quickly taken penalty.
The Highlanders then blew a couple of chances but were up 22-19 with three minutes to go.
They could not find touch from a penalty and the Lions kept the ball well and rugged lock Wikus van Heerden burrowed over for the winning try.
Lions coach John Mitchell said his side was starting to believe in themselves, which should help in the years to come.
"Our belief appears to be far more away from Ellis Park.
"We're hoping to grow as a group and put us in good stead for the Currie Cup."
Few Highlanders emerged with much credit.
Josh Bekhuis got through a mountain of work and Treeby made a solid return from injury.
The tryscorers for the Lions had sound games while the experienced Butch James grew as the game went on.
THE SCORES
- Lions v Highlanders
• Lions 26
Josh Strauss, Wikus van Heerden tries, Elton Jantjies 4 pen, 2 con
• Highlanders 22
Shaun Treeby try, Lima Sopoaga 5 pen, con
• Halftime: 16-9 Highlanders
• Crowd: 5217
