The Highlanders pulled off an impressive late comeback to defeat the Chiefs 30-27 in the Super Rugby season-opener in Hamilton on Friday night.
Not even a red card to Sio Tomkinson and a dodgy disallowed try call from the TMO could stop the Dunedin-based outfit from coming out on top.
The Highlanders made the better start to the match thanks to an early converted try from Pari Pari Parkinson, but the Chiefs struck back superbly to take a 19-10 lead into half-time.
Tyler Ardron and Angus Ta’avao scored two tries in the space of three minutes midway through the first half and debutant Etene Nanai-Seturo added a third two minutes before the break to put the Chiefs in the ascendancy.
Nanai-Seturo added a second try nine minutes after the break to give the Chiefs a 24-13 lead, but Shannon Frizell hit back in the 64th minute with his side’s second five-pointer to reduce the deficit and get the Highlanders back in the game.
It was only minutes later, however, that Tomkinson was given his marching orders by referee Glen Jackson for not using his arms in tackling Chiefs captain Brodie Retallick.
Against all odds, however, it was the side with 14 men that had the final say, as Aaron Smith came off the bench to score the winning try with four minutes left on the clock to stun the Hamilton crowd.
With his side closing in on the goal line, Smith arrived at a ruck and threw a big dummy before beating Jesse Parete and Michael Allardice and dotting the ball down for the winning score.
