Highlanders take down 'Tahs

The Highlanders put a major dent in the Waratahs' Super 14 semi-final hopes with a convincing 26-10 win in Invercargill.

Blindside flanker Adam Thomson crossed twice and number eight Steven Setephano added a third as the New Zealanders powered to just their third victory of the season.

Waratahs responded through a first-half Kurtley Beale score and five points from the boot of Daniel Halangahu.

However, Chris Hickey's men must now rely on other results if they are to feature in the last four picture.

Aplomb

In the wet, cold and windy conditions at Rugby Park Stadium, the home side were the quickest to adapt, keeping the ball in close and using the forwards to gain ground upfield.

It was a tactic the Waratahs simply could not cope with and they were made to pay as the Highlanders camped in their half and starved them of ball.

The pressure eventually told, and on 10 minutes Setephano powered his way over for the first try of the match.

Three minutes later Thomson was forcing the ball down for the Highlanders' second score after fly-half Halangahu failed to find touch with a clearance kick.

The ball was collected by wing Ben Smith, who fed Israel Dagg. He then put Fetu'u Vainikolo in space before the forwards picked up the attack which resulted in Thomson grounding with aplomb. Dagg added the extras.

The Waratahs hit back through a Halangahu penalty in the 19th minute and the visitors finished the half strongly when dangerous runners Lachie Turner, Drew Mitchell and Kurtley Beale were able to get the ball in a bit of space.

The rare foray into the Highlanders' 22 reaped the reward with Beale going over after a slick build-up that involved some good interplay between number eight Ben Mowen, scrum-half Josh Holmes and inside centre Berrick Barnes.

Halangahu's conversion meant the visitors trailed just 12-10 at half-time.

Pressure

The next score was always going to prove crucial, and Highlanders got it early in the second half through the rampaging Thomson.

Dagg broke through a gap between prop Dan Palmer and Mowen, found lock Josh Bekhuis out on the wing and he in turn passed inside to Thomson who stretched out to score.

Matt Berquist could not convert but slotted a penalty over in the 55th minute to stretch his side's lead to 20-10.

The game opened up in the final 20 minutes as the Waratahs desperately probed for a route back into the match.

The Highlanders defence never wavered, though, and the Waratahs were kept scoreless in the second half.