Match Centre: Super Rugby Pacific: Moana Pasifika 17-28 Highlanders

Moana Pasifika 17-28 Highlanders, Teufaiva Stadium

Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens scored a double as Highlanders defeated Moana Pasifika 28-17 in the latest round of the Super Rugby Pacific at Teufaiva Stadium on Saturday.

This is fourth win for Highlanders in 10 games as they moved to the seventh place in the table while Moana Pasifika are at ninth position.

Moana Pasifika started the game briskly as Abraham Pole got one around the corner and defeated two defenders to touchdown and William Havili kicked the conversion to make it 7-0.

The response from Highlanders came in the 9th minute when Mark Tele'a sent a wide pass for Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens to cross over but Cameron Millar's conversion drifted wide making it 7-5.

As Highlanders conceded a scrum penalty, Havili kicked a three pointer but soon Highlanders seized the lead before quick hands allowed Connor Garden-Bachop to dot down and Millar's conversion made it 10-12.

With the half time approaching William Havili and Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens traded tries as the teams completed the opening half with a 17-19 scoreline.

Millar kicked a 15m penalty goal early in the second half to get Highlanders off the block and he was only point scorer in the second half punishing Moana Pasifika.

With no response from the hosts, Millar kicked two more penalty goals in the 59th and 72nd minutes to complete a 17-28 victory for the New Zealand side.