(Adds time of kick in second paragraph)
WELLINGTON, March 17 (Reuters) – Replacement
flyhalf Chris Noakes landed a late penalty to
give the Otago Highlanders a 19-17 win over
the Wellington Hurricanes on Saturday and maintain their winning
start to the Super Rugby season.
Noakes landed the 35 – metre effort
from the right flank in the 75th minute to make it four wins
from four for the Highlanders and take them back to the top of
the New Zealand conference.
The Highlanders failed to reach the high level of play
they had demonstrated in the three previous
wins but were happy to e dge another
close – fought game.
“Four wins, pretty happy, but obviously a lot to work on,”
Highlanders captain Jamie Mackintosh said in a pitchside
interview.
“We really know how to close out a game, there was a
lot of composure. Winning instils confidence.”
The visitors started strongly and looked like they
would win comfortably as All Black flyhalf Colin Slade stroked
over two penalties , punishing the Hurricanes
for routinely infring ing
in the opening stages.
Slade then dived over from close range for the first
try of the match in the 16th minute after scrumhalf Jimmy
Cowan’s tap penalty and dart put them deep into Wellington’s
22.
Slade swept over the conversion from in front of the
posts to stretch the lead to 13-0 as the Highlanders looked like
they were going to cut loose.
Continued…
