Highlanders dent Rebels' play-off chance with 43-37 triumph
Waisake Naholo was one of the try-scorer for Highlanders
©PA
Highlanders 43-37 Rebels, Forsyth Barr Stadium
Scorecard
Melbourne Rebels' chances of making to the play-off have taken a serious blow with Highlanders completing a 43-37 victory in their Super Rugby encounter at Forsyth Barr Stadium on Saturday.
Rebels have maintained their second position in Australian Conference and will now depend on the result Sharks-Jaguares clash that will decide their fate of making to the next round.
Reece Hodge kicked a third minute penalty goal to begin the proceedings for Rebels but Highlanders responded back with Lima Sopoaga kicking the equaliser in the sixth minute.
The opening try in the game came in the ninth minute when Amanaki Mafi crashed over and Hodge slotted the conversion to make it 3-10. The visitors further pressed their advantage and ended the first quarter with a lead of 3-17 with Hodge scoring a converted try.
However, their momentum was dented when Michael Ruru was sin-binned in the 23rd minute for tripping Lima Sopoaga and Highlanders capitalised on the numerical advantage with Waisake Naholo touching down in the 26th minute and after the visitors returned to full strength, Kayne Hammington also went past the line.
Sopoaga kicked both the conversions as the scores were levelled 17-17. Hodge, who was the standout player for Rebels scored his second converted try in the 36th minute but Highlanders replied with a try from Teihorangi Walden as the teams went into the break with a 22-24 scoreline.
After the first 10 minutes in the second half went without a point, Hodge extended the advantage for Rebels with his third converted try and soon followed it with a penalty kick to stretch the lead to 22-34.
The New Zealand side did not relent as they scored back to back tries at the start of the final quarter with tries from Tevita Li and Greg Pleasants-Tate and Sopoaga converted both. to put Highlanders into the lead and a 76th minute try from Tom Franklin saw them claim a 43-34 lead.
As the closing stage was approaching, replacement Jack Debreczeni kicked an 80th-minute penalty goal but Rebels still fell four points short of Highlanders' tally of 43 points.
