The Otago Highlanders took a bonus point from their first home win of the season on Saturday, beating South Africa’s Cats 29-17 in a Super 12 rugby match at Carisbrook.
The Highlanders scored four tries in a deeply flawed performance, speeding to an early 15-0 lead, then trailing 17-15 before sealing the match with 12 late points.
”It was pleasing to get the win,” said captain Anton Oliver who was among the Highlanders’ try-scorers.
”We got four tries and a bonus point. Don’t ask me how we did but we did.
”We’ve started every game this season like world beaters. After 15 or 20 minutes we’re always points up and then the rot sets in.”
Oliver scored the Highlanders’ first try from the opening exchanges and Seilala Mapusua added another minutes later as the home team made a dramatic beginning.
Flyhalf Nick Evans, who took a starting place for former All Black Tony Brown, kicked a conversion and a penalty and the Highlanders led 15-0 after only 13 minutes.
But Otago’s performance followed the pattern of the season when they lost concentration, the ability to guard possession and quickly gave up a soft try.
Enrico Januarie scored for the Cats in the 27th minute, Andre Pretorius added the conversion and the Highlanders’ lead was cut to 15-10 at halftime.
Otago have conceded leads of up to 22 points this season and lost to the Sharks 36-35 last week after building what had seemed an unbeatable advantage.
They seemed ready to squander a winning lead again when Pretorius opened the second half scoring with a try and added a conversion which gave put the Cats in front 17-10.
Oliver demanded a tightening of the Highlanders’ forward performance, more coordinated defence and sharper play from the backs. He was rewarded when Evans scored a try to reclaim the lead and when Craig Newby added a bonus point try close to fulltime.
The win was the Highlanders’ second in five matches this season, the bonus point their fifth, moving them to 14 points and onto the upper rungs of the Super 12 ladder.
The Cats were left winless but took some heart from a determined defensive performance.
Scores:
Otago 29 (Seilala Mapusua, Anton Oliver, Nick Evans, Craig Newby tries; Evans 3 conversions, penalty) def. Cats 17 (Enrico Januarie, Andre Pretorius tries; Pretorius 2 conversions, penalty). – Sapa-AP