Super Rugby results: Highlande

CHRISTCHURCH, NEW ZEALAND – MARCH 03: Bryn Hall of the Crusaders breaks away to score a try during the round two Super Rugby match between the Crusaders and the Stormers at AMI Stadium on March 3, 2018 in Christchurch, New Zealand. (Photo by Martin Hunter/Getty Images)

Super Rugby results: Highlanders 25-17 Crusaders

Two late penalties by Lima Sopoaga sealed a dramatic 25-17 victory for the unbeaten Otago Highlanders over the Canterbury Crusaders in a bruising Super Rugby clash in Dunedin on Saturday.

Super Rugby results: Highlande

CHRISTCHURCH, NEW ZEALAND – MARCH 03: Bryn Hall of the Crusaders breaks away to score a try during the round two Super Rugby match between the Crusaders and the Stormers at AMI Stadium on March 3, 2018 in Christchurch, New Zealand. (Photo by Martin Hunter/Getty Images)

The Highlanders claimed an impressive win over Super RugbHighlandersing champions, the Crusaders, in Dunedin on Saturday.

It was a thrilling encounter at the Forsyth Barr Stadium with both sides scoring – and converting – within the first ten minutes.

The Highlanders were the first to respond to the pressure and added seven more points through Lima Sopoaga who converted his own try.

The Crusaders then converted a penalty as control continued to swing at the Highlanders took a 14-10 lead into the second half.

As soon as play resumed drama continued with a Crusaders try disallowed after the TMO spotted a knock-on.

Within minutes, Waisake Naholo was yellow carded for a high tackle, leaving the Highlanders a man down, but the hosts were unperturbed. They scored again with the conversion missed this time.

And so, the pendulum continued to swing with the gap never more than ten points apart.

It is the first time in three years the Crusaders have suffered back-to-back defeats, having gone down 29-19 to the Wellington Hurricanes last week.

“It was a hell of a game. We knew it was going to go down to the wire,” said a relieved Highlanders skipper Ben Smith.

“We’re still learning and it’s still early in the competition. We just needed to make sure everyone was getting the right messages.”