Highlanders end Bulls run

The Highlanders brought the Bulls unbeaten run in the 2009 Super 14 to an abrupt end with a comprehensive 36-12 victory at Palmerston North on Saturday.

The Highlanders were playing their first home match away from their traditional South Island venues, as they turned up in the lower North Island city, which is within the Wellington Hurricanes catchment area.

However, they may consider a return as they ended the Bulls' unbeaten start to the season with a commanding victory.

The home side held the upper hand throughout the match, leading 21-5 at half-time thanks to scores by midfielders Jason Shoemark and Daniel Bowden as well as skipper Jimmy Cowan.

Their three tries in that period were carbon copies of each other and came thanks to pounding phase play which depleted the defensive line.

Bonus point

Mathew Berquist converted all three and added one of his own in the second half to bring up the Highlanders four-try bonus point in a memorable win in front of a large supporting crowd.

Bulls fly-half Morne Steyn added some respectability to his side's score in the 59th minute but the Highlanders never looked like giving up their lead.

The usually insurmountable Bulls forward pack met their match in a dogged Highlanders front row, with frequent turnover ball leaving the visitors in poor field position.

A Bulls side that had conceded just sixteen points a game before this encounter were opened up early through a try to centre Shoemark after some concerted pressure.

The Bulls struck back into the wind through a try to winger Gerhard van den Heever, but they spent most of the first half defending from then on, conceding tries to Shoemark's midfield partner Bowden and the inspirational Cowan.

Wind

At 5-21 down, the Bulls turned with the wind at their backs but quickly saw the game slip away from them courtesy of a try and penalty to Berquist, who scored 16 points.

Steyn responded with a Bulls try but the final say went to young Highlanders full-back Israel Dagg, who capped another assured performance with a try.

The Bulls lose their competition lead and will leave Palmerston North muttering about the howling wind and manic supporters wearing blue buckets on their heads.

The defeat is hardly a train smash, it is after all their first of this campaign, but they will have to make significant improvements if they hope to beat the Crusaders in Christchurch next week.

In contrast, New Zealand's southern-most franchise will surely want to return to Palmerston North, producing one of the best performances in their history and announcing themselves as play-off contenders.