Both teams will be going into this match coming off a loss. The Highlanders lost at home to the Sharks while the Lions went down against the Crusaders.
When the Lions went down to the Crusaders the final score was 46-19 but the half time score was 22-16 and the match was much closer than it was expected to be.
Match detail
We are waiting for the kick off.
0.01: Carlos Spencer kicks off and we are underway.
1.00: The Lions give away a penalty for offside so the Highlanders clear the ball to the halfways line.
4.00:Jamie Mackintosh gives away a penalty on the ground so the Lions get the first chance for points. Carlos Spencer takes the kick but misses.
7.00: The Lions get a line out on the Highlanders 25. They win the line out and set up the maul.
8.00: They get to about 8m out of the Highlanders line and the maul slows and then as it moves forward they swing the ball out to Michael Killian who darts off and scores the first try of the match in the corner.
9.00: Carlos Spencer takes the conversion and nails it.
10.00: The Lions get caught in front of the ball so the Highlanders get a penalty for offside. Israel Dagg takes the kick and slots it.
15.00: The Lions set up another maul after a line out. and they drive for the line and then over for the try. Cobus Grobbelaar comes up with the ball so he was the try scorer.
16.00: Carlos Spencer takes the conversion and misses – it curled out to the right.
17.00: The Highlanders get a penalty after referee Stuart Dickinson gives both teams a talking to. Israel Dagg takes the kick and he nails it.
19.00: As the Highlanders start to get some momentum and some ball Adam Thomson gives away a penalty so Carlos Spencer boots the ball downfield.
20.00: The Lions press forward as Venter makes a break. The Highlanders defence holds them out but we get called back for a high tackle by Clint Newland.
21.00: The Lions set up a line out. They win the line out and then the maul. They drive a little forward and then show some quick hands and swing the ball out to Wigan Pekeur who scores in the corner. The Highlanders are getting killed at the line out.
23.00: Spencer takes the conversion and again misses.
27.00: It’s really all going the Lions way. As the Highlanders get some ball they try to use the backline and a forward pass goes in.
30.00: The Highlanders spark some life into their game after Kenny Lynn creates the break and passes to Jimmy Cowan who finds Hayden Triggs in support and Triggs goes over.
31.00: Israel Dagg adds the conversion and the Highlanders are right back in this when really they shouldn’t be.
33.00: The Highlanders have some momentum now and as they go forward the Lions give away a penalty and Dagg bangs it over. It’s a one point game.
35.00: The Highlanders are suddenly all over the Lions as Jimmy Cowan comes to within a metre of the line. They recycle and Newland has a go at the line. Somehow the Lions turn it over and Killian bangs the ball downfield to safety for the Lions.
36.00: The ball is all over the place for a minute as both try teams try some attack in broken play.
38.00: The Lions however give away a penalty and Dagg bangs over his fourth penalty to take the lead.
40.00: Discipline is costing the Lions heavily now. They give away another penalty and Dagg takes another shot and he nails it from well out. It’s half time.
The half time score was Highlanders 22 Lions 17
The second half is underway.
41.00: The Lions start badly by giving away a penalty (Cobus Grobbelaar) for not rolling away so Israel Dagg starts the half with another shot at goal. He nails it.
46.00: Todd Clever comes off holding his shoulder so Willem Stoltz comes on and goes into the lock position.
48.00: Discipline again costs the Lions as Stoltz gives away a penalty and Israel Dagg takes yet another shot at the posts and this one he misses.
52.00: The Lions give away another free kick and the Highlanders take it quickly. Dagg kicks the ball behind the Lions defence and Kenny Lynn chases the ball and beats Tonderai Chavhanga to the ball (Chavhanga fumbled) – we go upstairs to check. TMO says the try can be awarded.
53.00: Dagg takes the conversion kick and nails it.
54.00: Earl Rose comes on for the Lions as the Lions are going forward. The Lions get their maul driving again. They get up to the line but the Lions give away a penalty.
55.00: Triggs goes down injured so we have a break.
60.00; Yet another penalty given away by the Lions. The currently penalty count is 12 – 6 against the Lions. The Highlanders clear the ball.
61.00 Stuart Dickinson puts his arm up and Walter Venter gets shown a red card for going in with the tackle. Dickinson sees he is holding up the wrong colour card and changes it to a yellow. Jano Vermaak comes off injured.
62.00: After the Highlanders kick for the penalty they get the maul going and they get to within 5m and Franco van der Merwe pulls the maul down. Stuart Dickinson makes no hesitation in awarding the penalty try.
63.00: Dagg adds the conversion.
65.00: The Lions get some good territory with a line out about 10m out. They put almost all their players into the ball – including the fullback. The Lions win the ball and start the maul but the Highlanders push them backwards.
67.00: After what seems like an age the Lions swing the ball out and as they get to within a metre the Lions get a penalty – Rose takes it quickly and as he dives for the line with the ball he loses it.
69.00; The Lions get an attacking scrum in front of the posts. They win the scrum and pass the ball out JP Joubert who runs in the bonus point try for the Lions. That was easy. Too easy.
70.00: Earl Rose takes the conversion too quickly and misses.
71.00: Jason Macdonald comes on for the Highlanders and his 50th Super Rugby cap.
76.00; The Lions look to finish on a high note. They run the ball into the Highlanders 25 and start to look dangerous. The Highlanders defence holds them out for a bit. Charles Emslie makes a break and then they centre the ball and Wigan Pekeur goes over for the Lions fifth try.
78.00: Rose adds the conversion.
79.00: Fetu’u Vainikolo gets the ball out the back of a ruck and flies off for the bonus point try but is called back for an obstruction.
81.10:The siren goes but we have time for the Lions movement. They Lions get to within 3m but they are shoved into touch. That’s it – Highlanders win.
The full time score is Highlanders 39 Lions 29
Scorers
Highlanders
Tries – H Triggs, K Lynn, Penalty
Pen – I Dagg 6
Con – I Dagg 3
Drop –
Cards –
Lions
Tries – M Killian, C Grobbelaar ,W Pekeur 2, JP Joubert
Pen –
Con – C Spencer, E Rose
Drop –
Cards – Walter Venter (61) yellow.
Tries – M Killian, C Grobbelaar ,W Pekeur 2, JP Joubert
Pen –
Con – C Spencer, E Rose
Drop –
Cards – Walter Venter (61) yellow.
Match Officials
Referee: Stuart Dickinson (Australia)
Assistant referees: Kane McBride (New Zealand), Shane McDermott (New Zealand)
TMO: Glenn Newman (New Zealand)
Referee: Stuart Dickinson (Australia)
Assistant referees: Kane McBride (New Zealand), Shane McDermott (New Zealand)
TMO: Glenn Newman (New Zealand)
Teams
Highlanders – 1 Jamie Mackintosh ( vc ) , 2 Jason Rutledge , 3 Clint Newland , 4 Josh Bekhuis , 5 Hayden Triggs , 6 Adam Thomson , 7 John Hardie , 8 Steven Setephano , 9 Jimmy Cowan ( c ) , 10 Robbie Robinson , 11 James Paterson , 12 Michael Hobbs , 13 Kenny Lynn ,14 Ben Smith , 15 , Israel Dagg
Replacements: 16. Jason Macdonald , 17. Bronson Murray , 18. Joe Tuineau , 19. Tim Boys , 20. Sean Romans , 21. Jason Shoemark , 22. Fetu’u Vainikolo
Lions – 15 Michael Killian, 14 Wigan Pekeur, 13 Walter Venter, 12 Doppies la Grange, 11 Tonderai Chavhanga, 10 Carlos Spencer, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Todd Clever, 7 Derick Minnie, 6 Cobus Grobbelaar (c), 5 Franco van der Merwe, 4 Nico Luus, 3 Ross Geldenhuys, 2 Hannes Franklin, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg.
Reserves: 16 Charles Emslie, 17 Heinke van der Merwe, 18 Willem Stoltz, 19 Robert Kruger, 20 JP Joubert, 21 Wandile Mjekevu, 22 Earl Rose.
