The Highlanders kicked off their Super Rugby pre-season warm-up games with a 15-11 victory over Australian rivals the Brumbies at the Queenstown Recreation Ground in Queenstown.
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The Highlanders opened the scoring with a penalty to take a 3-0 lead before former Lions No 10 Lionel Cronje levelled the scores to 3-3.
The Brumbies scored the only try of the match when Sam Carter crossed in the first half and although the conversion was missed the Brumbies led 6-8 at the end of the first quarter after another Highlanders penalty.
Instead of the normal running rugby style in the Super Rugby warm ups both teams appeared to be more focused on their defensive measures.
After the break the Higlanders went into the lead with their third penalty to lead 9-8 but then Cronje hit back with another penalty.
At half time the Brumbies led 11-9 and in the final two quarters the Highlanders kicked two further penalties and the Brumbies were unable to add to their score.
Final Score: Highlanders (9) 15 / 11 (11) Brumbies
Scorers:
Highlanders
Penalties : Hayden Parker (3), Lima Sopoaga (2)
Brumbies
Tries: Sam Carter (1)
Penalties: Lionel Cronje (1)
Teams:
Highlanders: 1 Craig Millar, 2 Liam Coltman (Captain), 3 Ma’afu Fia, 4 Jarrad Hoeata, 5 Tom Franklin, 6 Gareth Evans, 7 Lee Allan, 8 Elliot Dixon, 9 Frae Wilson, 10 Hayden Parker, 11 Richard Buckman, 12 Shaun Treeby, 13 Winston Stanley, 14 Patrick Osborne, 15 Trent Renata
Replacements: Unknown
Brumbies Squad (alphabetical order): Allan Alaalatoa, Fotu Auelua, Jarrad Butler, Sam Carter, Robbie Coleman, Lionel Cronje, Michael Dowsett, Matt Hawke, Conrad Hoffman, Rod Iona, Josh MannRea, Pat McCabe, Lachlan McCaffery, David Pocock, Leon Power, Clyde Rathbone, Siliva Siliva, Scott Sio, Andrew Smith, JP Smith, Michael Smith, Ruan Smith, Henry Speight, Tom Stainiforth, Haru Tetakawa, Jack Whetton, Stephan Van der Walt.