Super Rugby champions Highlanders edge out Force

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Dan Pryor finishes off this stunning Super Rugby team try for the Highlanders

Replacement Jason Emery scored a late try to give an error-ridden Highlanders a 32-20 victory in a bruising encounter against the Western Force in Dunedin on Friday.

The game was marred by serious injuries to Highlanders' prop Brendon Edmonds, who was replaced in the third minute following an ankle injury, and Force flanker Angus Cottrell who was carried off on a stretcher in the 61st minute.

Force locks Ross Haylett-Petty and Adam Coleman also had concussion checks after a sickening head clash when they were attempting to tackle All Blacks centre Malakai Fekitoa.

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Highlanders captain Ben Smith also failed a concussion test, while Edmonds' replacement Daniel Lienert-Brown was checked in the first half, which resulted in non-contested scrums until he returned.

The home side's fast tempo lead to a string of errors in attack

Despite some of the intensity of the collisions, the Force again failed to sustain their performance for the entire match, however improvements on their three previous games were visible. 

They have proved competitive in the first half of their previous three matches, before getting taken apart in the second, losing 31-14 to the Brumbies, 41-6 to the Hurricanes and then 53-10 to the Chiefs last week.

The Perth-based side raced out to a 14-0 lead after 11 minutes with tries to fullback Dane Haylett-Petty and number eight Ben McCalman, which were both converted by Peter Grant.

The home side were sloppy with ball in hand for much of the game as they attempted to play at a fast tempo and keep it alive at all costs.

Semisi Masirewa breaks through the Highlanders defence

It was their ability to counter-attack from deep, however, that allowed them to sneak to victory with winger Patrick Osborne and Dan Prior finishing off sweeping movements in the first half to leave the score locked at 14-14 at halftime.

Grant and Hayden Parker traded early second half penalties before Matt Faddes finished off a scintillating break from Aaron Smith to give the Highlanders a lead they never relinquished.

Grant and Parker again slotted penalties before Osborne set up Emery's try in the final five minutes after the Highlanders had pounced on a loose ball at halfway, which replacement flyhalf Marty Banks converted.