Highlanders leave it late
Last Updated: 02/07/16 8:41pm
The Highlanders were forced to work hard for their 48-18 victory over the Kings in Port Elizabeth on Saturday.
The final score made it seem easy for the defending champions who were expected to make light work of the Kings, but the New Zealanders were only two points ahead with 15 minutes remaining before tries from Jack Wilson, Patrick Osborne, Matt Faddes and Aki Seiuli gave the Highlanders the bonus point and a comfortable win.
Faddes scored a hat-trick while Lima Sopoaga added 11 points with the boot.
The Kings started strongly and Elgar Watts had an early chance to give his side the lead from the tee, but he sent the effort wide of the posts.
Lima Sopoaga made no such mistake when Edgar Marutlulle was pinged for a high tackle, with the No 10 making it 3-0 after 15 minutes.
Kings centre Shane Gates then received a yellow card for lifting a player over the horizontal, in a period during which Faddes scored the first of his tries, which Sopoaga converted for a 10-0 lead at the beginning of the second quarter.
Watts then added a penalty to bring his side within seven points, and the hosts almost drew level when Wandie Mjekevu crossed shortly before half-time, but the conversion was missed to leave the visitors 10-8 ahead at the break.
Faddes dotted down five minutes after the restart, and Dan Pryor added another try 10 minutes later, but Sopoaga failed with both conversions to leave his side 20-8 ahead.
Kings replacement Louis Fouche slotted a penalty attempt at the end of the third quarter, before a close-range try from second rower Steven Sykes put the game in the balance in the 66th minute.
The crowd was urging something special from the home side but a late flurry from the Highlanders dashed any hopes of a comeback, adding four tries in the final 15 minutes to keep their play-off hopes alive.
