Match Details

Highlanders (NZ)

VS

Stormers (SA)

35

Dunedin Kick off times: 5:35pm (Local) Sat 24 Feb 3:35pm (AEDT) Sat 24 Feb

24

The Highlanders gained their first four-try bonus point for two seasons when they decisively beat the Stormers 35-24 in their Investec Super 14 match at Carisbrook on Saturday evening.

The Kiwis led 23-5 at halftime and 30-5 midway through the second spell before the Stormers made a late surge to gain a consolation bonus point themselves.

It was the Highlanders' second win in four games, they now have 11 points while the Stormers are anchored to the bottom of the table on five points.

The Stormers suffered yet again in Dunedin where the Highlanders quickly stamped their mark on the game and did not relent.

Captain Josh Blackie was an inspirational captain and flanker for the Highlanders who, for the first four, outplayed the Stormers in intensity and efficiency on a sunny Dunedin evening. They were shaded in territory and possession and they made it count.

"It was awesome to play with the sun on our backs and in front of a bumper crowd," Blackie said. "We did the set pieces and the rest followed."

The Highlanders made a good start, Charlie Hore kicking a penalty from 25 metres from a ruck infringement after six minutes to give them a 3-0 lead.

The home team increased their lead from a set scrum seven minutes later. Hore chipped in behind the advancing defence and centre Matt Saunders gathered to score by the posts. Hore's conversion made it 10-0.

A minute later the Stormers infringed again and Hore kicked his second penalty to make it 13-0.

The Highlanders were rampant at this stage and, from a sweeping move, No 8 Craig Newby was pushed into touch by the corner flag.

The Stormers were penned in their own territory for most of the first quarter and they fired few shots on attack, poor handling contributing to their problems.

Their first concerted attack ended in disaster, a floated pass from Peter Grant being intercepted by wing Viliame Waqaseduadua who sprinted 75 metres to the posts. Hore's simple conversion made it 20-0 after 28 minutes.

The Stormers launched their best attack of the match five minutes before halftime but halfback Jimmy Cowan got across to make a try-saving tackle on big lock Andries Bekker.

But two minutes later Bekker again found himself in the clear and he pushed off two tackles as he raced 20 metres to score just inside the terrace touch. Peter Grant missed the conversion and it was 20-5.

But the Highlanders regained field position, Hore kicked his third penalty and it was 23-5 at halftime. 

Breyton Paulse gave the Stormers their first chance 14 minutes into the second with an electrifying kick-and-chase, Newby just getting back to force for a five-metre scrum, but the South Africans were unable to capitalise.

The Highlanders made the game safe after the third quarter when they breached some poor tackling by the Stormers.

Waqaseduadua made the initial incision down the left wing, Saunders chipped infield, and fullback Glen Horton gathered and passed to replacement flanker Hale T-Pole who crashed over the third try. Hore converted to make it 30-5.

The Highlanders scored a rare bonus point 15 minutes from the end when replacement halfback Bolla Conradie made a hash of a chip-through by Callum Bruce and Saunders swooped on the loose ball for his second try.

The Stormers struck back through a try by wing Breyton Paulse, created by a fine chase by Bekker but, with 12 minutes left, the Highlanders were safe at 35-10.

The Stormers scored their third try six minutes from the end when replacement loose forward Francois van der Merwe crashed over from a lineout drive. Peter Grant converted to make it 35-17.

The Stormers had the final say and grabbed a bonus point from a tap penalty when captain and flanker Luke Watson crashed over for a try which Grant converted.

Highlanders 35

Tries: Matt Saunders 2, Viliame Waqaseduadua, Hale T-Pole.

Conversions: Hore 3

Penalties: Hore 3

Stormers 24

Tries: Andries Bekker, Breyton Paulse, Francois van der Merwe, Luke Watson

Conversions: Peter Grant 2.