Crusaders edge out Highlanders with late surge

Highlanders 27 - 30 Crusaders, Forsyth Barr Stadium
Scorecard

Crusaders scored two tries in the final five minutes as they came back from behind to seal a thrilling 27-30 victory over Highlanders in their Super Rugby clash at Forsyth Barr Stadium on Friday.

The win has taken Crusaders to third position in the New Zealand conference with eight points while languish at the bottom of the table.

Fly-half Mitch Hunt scored a penalty in the fourth minute to get Crusaders off the mark and it remained the only points in the first quarter.

Highlanders number 10 Lima Sopoaga replied back with a penalty of his own to level the scores in the 21st minute following which replacement Gareth Evans crossed over allowing the fly-half with the extras to take Highlanders to a seven point lead.

Even though, Hunt scored his second penalty in the 29th minute, Waisake Naholo rumbled past the post in the 34th minute followed by a conversion from Sopoaga to end the first half with 17-6 scoreline in favour of the hosts.

Naholo extended Highlanders advantage in the second half with his second try in the game while Sopoaga added a penalty and a conversion as the lead swelled to 21 points.

Crusaders were awarded a scrum on the Highlanders five metre line and it proved too strong for the Highlanders, who were pushed back, also resulting in a penalty try for the visitors.

David Kaetau Havili further raised Crusaders hopes with a touchdown in the 65th minute and the came came down to nine points heading into the final 10 minutes.

That's when the game turned on its head after Highlanders lost Malakai Fekitoa, who was sin-binned and Crusaders capitalised on the advantage of having an extra men through tries from number eight Whetu Douglas and wing Seta Tamanivalu to seal a three point victory.