Highland fling as the Crusaders are downed

Getty Images ©

The Highlanders have pulled off the upset of the 2008 Rebel Sport Super 14, beating the title-favourite Crusaders 26-14 in the final week of round-robin action.

Completely defying the odds, the Glenn Moore-coached Highlanders ended a miserable season results-wise to record the historic victory at Christchurch's AMI Stadium.

The win comes just seven days after the Crusaders needed a get out of jail free card to win in the dying moments against the Reds.

It provided a perfect farewell for captain Craig Newby, playing in his final match in a Highlanders jersey.

"We watched the Reds came last week, and that was what the Reds did to them," Newby said.

"We tried to disrupt them, hook into to them and it paid off.

"Mud sticks and hopefully this last game is what everyone remembers. And hopefully the players we had last year will want to come back.

"It is a fantastic way to go out. My first game for the Highlanders was here against the Crusaders and my last one was too. That is quite special."

Despite missing a lengthy list of their regular starters through injury, and the benching of vice-captain Jimmy Cowan, the Highlanders displayed a spirit which few others have been able to show against the Crusaders.

The win was based on old-fashioned team-work, ignoring the big-name reputations of those who were wearing the red and black jersey.

Right from the start they played as if they wanted to make a statement in their final match of the season. For most of the match, the Crusaders had no answer to the intensity.

One of the Highlanders' best was loose forward Adam Thomson, who should come into All Black season-ending tour contention if he can have a strong Air New Zealand Cup campaign.

Newby also had a stormer, realising his dream of going out on a high against the Crusaders.

The Crusaders had opened the score with a try to hooker Corey Flynn.

The Highlanders then responded with a five-pointer to Paul Williams.

Mike Delany then gained the lead for the southern battlers with a 14th minute penalty.

Daniel Carter and Delany exchanged successful penalties, Carter in the 29th and 40th minutes and Delany in the 22nd.

But the Highlanders were the ones up at halftime via tries to Thomson and Toby Morland.

Delany then further extended the lead with a penalty in the 60th minute.

He missed a further attempt in the 69th minute.

The Crusaders were then reduced to 14-men when captain Richie McCaw was sin-binned for a breakdown offence on the 70-minute mark.

Delany missed the subsequent penalty attempt.

The Crusaders were completely rattled, unable to show a similar fight-back to what they have displayed so many times in their existence.

But it was a different story for the Highlanders, enjoying the final three minutes before time was blown on their first win over the Crusaders since 2001.

HIGHLANDERS 26 (P Williams, T Morland, A Thomson tries; M Delany 3 pen, con), CRUSADERS 14 (C Flynn try; D Carter 3 pen). HT: 23-14.