Finishing their season with a flourish, and sending Super Rugby Aotearoa 2020 off centre stage with an entertaining spectacle, the Highlanders beat the Hurricanes 38-21 at Dunedin's Forsyth Barr Stadium on Saturday.
The opportunity to play under perfect, indoor conditions, was appreciated by both sides who took the chance to play some celebratory rugby befitting an end of season contest.
Three tries were denied the Hurricanes by the TMO and the Highlanders took advantage to get a win that denied the Hurricanes a second placing in the competition.
It was refreshing to see one of the tries over-ruled as a result of blatant obstruction, similar to much that has gone unchecked by referees during the season.
The Highlanders started at a pace and rarely let-up. The scoring was hectic.
Highlanders lock Jack Whetton turned the ball over during an early period of pressure play and the Hurricanes pounced as fullback Jordie Barrett tore down the left flank and looked inside where halfback Jamie Booth carried the play forward.
He worked his way infield and the Hurricanes worked the ball back to the right where Vince Aso celebrated his return to the wing with a fourth-minute try.
However, the Highlanders were undeterred in their approach. They mounted another series of assaults. Fullback Mitch Hunt at first receiver took a step or two to commit the inside defence and then passed out to first five-eighths Josh Ioane who quickly transferred the ball to replacement wing Ngatungane Punivai, on the field as a temporary replacement for Jona Nareki, to score in the ninth minute.
Aso, in the 17th minute, was denied a second try after a startling break from the base of a scrum by No.8 Ardie Savea who linked with Barrett on the blindside. Aso was given a run down the sideline but the TMO revealed he stepped on the sideline.
Soon after, the TMO denied the Hurricanes another try when from a centrefield ruck, lock Scott Scrafton's infield pass from the first receiver position to flanker Reed Prinsep was ruled forward. Prinsep had charged into open space to run 40m to touch down under the bar.
There was no denying the Hurricanes in the 28th minute though. Back in their 22, Ioane stepped into space but in throwing a pass, it dropped in front of centre Michael Collins. The Hurricanes pounced and fired the ball through the line with first five-eighths Jackson Garden Bachop stepping into a gap.
That gave second five-eighths Peter Umaga-Jensen a free run until challenged at which point Booth was inside him, and able to step Nareki to run in between the posts.
The Highlanders responded in a way they have used with aplomb during the campaign, a lineout maul after a penalty kick to the corner. Inevitably, hooker Ash Dixon was on the back of the maul and peeled off to drive over for the try in his 100th game for the side.
Time after time the Hurricanes created chances, another being when a promising situation was developing only for prop Tyrel Lomax to knock the ball on, and Booth made a midfield break late in the half only to be unable to find effective support.
The third quarter opened with the Highlanders maintaining the fast clip of the game and no sooner had Ioane landed a penalty goal than they worked their back into the Hurricanes half. Whetton bustled his way ahead with the ball which was released to Nareki who was back in the play again to link with Collins who scored.
While left-wing Chase Tiatia got over the line from a set-piece move, it was ruled out because of obstruction, of any one of three players, who were denied the chance to lay up defensive tackles.
However, the die was cast in the 56th minute when a penalty try was awarded after Savea infringed as the Highlanders looked to score from another rolling maul, Savea having entered from the side and then having prevented Dixon from scoring his second of the game.
Four minutes later, a messy Hurricanes ruck allowed Smith to secure the ball and pass to Hunt on the right flank who cleared out to score from 60m out.
Scorers: Highlanders 38 (Ngatungane Punivai, Ash Dixon, Michael Collins, penalty try, Mitch Hunt tries; Josh Ioane 3 con, pen; Hunt con) Hurricanes 21 (Vince Aso, Jamie Booth, Peter Umaga-Jensen tries; Jordie Barrett 3 con). HT: 14-14