Highlanders bag valuable points

The Highlanders got their Super Rugby campaign firmly back on track with a hard-earned 20-13 win over the Reds in Dunedin on Friday.

They scored one try each, but the educated boot of flyhalf Marty Banks secured the win for the home team – as he outscored Reds counterpart James O'Connor by four penalties to two penalties and a conversion.

Hayden Parker also kicked a penalty for the Highlanders.

Highlanders' wing Waisake Naholo was denied one try, but scored another to help secure the win over the reds.

Naholo, chasing a well-weighted kick, was beaten to a touchdown in the 36th minute by Reds scrumhalf Will Genia, though replays were needed to determine who reached the ball first.

The powerful Fiji-born wing was compensated in the 68th minute when he received the ball from an attacking scrum and broke close to the touchline for the Highlanders' only try.

The win by the Highlanders added to the Australian side's woes and crashing Wallaby James O'Connor's return to Super Rugby.

O'Connor had a strong game in a match dominated by defence.

It was the Reds' second loss in three matches, placing more pressure on a franchise still reeling after Australian police charged high-profile code-hopping recruit Karmichael Hunt with supplying cocaine.

Stand-in captain James Slipper was frustrated at the loss to the Highlanders, which snapped a four-game winning streak against the South Island team.

"Our discipline let us down, too many penalties in the first half and we were playing catch-up footy from then on," he said.

But there were some positives for the 2011 champions in O'Connor's performance, with the flyhalf making some electrifying runs and nailing three of his four kicks.

The 24-year old earned the last of his 44 Test caps in 2013, when the Wallabies dropped him over a series of off-field incidents.

He has returned to Super Rugby intent on breaking back into the Australian squad for this year's World Cup in England.

"It's good to have him back, it's just a shame we couldn't get the win for him and for Queensland," Slipper said.

The Highlanders set a furious pace in the first 10 minutes but could only manage a penalty.

O'Connor then brought the Reds to life with a jinking 60 metre run that left the Highlanders defence flat footed.

The Queenslanders went on the attack and almost found the try-line before the move ended with a knock-on from former Highlander Adam Thompson.

Disciplinary lapses proved costly for them, with the Highlanders kicking three penalties to lead 9-3 at half-time.

Reds No.8 Jake Schatz scored the game's opening try after the break when he darted over the line from the base of a scrum.

Naholo hit back with a try in the corner for the Highlanders to make it 17-10 with 13 minutes to go.

The New Zealanders remained on the offensive and were rewarded with a penalty in the 76th-minute to put the game beyond doubt.

The Reds managed a consolation penalty in the dying moments to reduce their losing margin to seven, earning themselves a bonus point.

Man of the match: Will Genia is beginning to regain some good form, while Adam Thomson enjoyed playing in his former home town against the his former teammates. Both Smiths, Ben and Aaron, along with Nasi Manu were good value – as they always are. Patrick Osborne made plenty of good metres, but our award goes to Highlanders flyhalf Marty Banks for his control of the game and accuracy of the tee.

The scorers:

For the Highlanders:

Try: Naholo

Pens: Banks 4, Parker

For the Reds:

Try: Schatz

Con: O'Connor

Pens: O'Connor 2

Teams:

Highlanders: 15 Ben Smith (co-captain), 14 Waisake Naholo, 13 Malakai Fekitoa, 12 Jason Emery, 11 Patrick Osborne, 10 Marty Banks, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Nasi Manu (co-captain), 7 John Hardie, 6 Elliot Dixon, 5 Mark Reddish, 4 Tom Franklin, 3 Ross Geldenhuys, 2 Ash Dixon, 1 Brendon Edmonds.

Replacements: 16 Liam Coltman, 17 Josh Hohneck, 18 Ma'afu Fia, 19 Joe Wheeler, 20 Dan Pryor, 21 Fumiaki Tanaka, 22 Hayden Parker, 23 Kurt Baker.

Reds: 15 Lachie Turner, 14 Chris Kuridrani, 13 Samu Kerevi, 12 Anthony Fainga'a, 11 Chris Feauai-Sautia, 10 James O'Connor, 9 Will Genia, 8 Jake Schatz, 7 Liam Gill, 6 Adam Thomson, 5 Marco Kotze, 4 Dave McDuling, 3 Sam Talakai, 2 Saia Fainga'a, 1 James Slipper (captain).

Replacements: 16 James Hanson, 17 Ben Daley, 18 Sef Faagase, 19 Tom Murday, 20 Curtis Browning, 21 Nick Frisby, 22 Sam Johnson, 23 Campbell Magnay.

Referee: Glen Jackson (New Zealand)

Assistant referees: Kane McBride (New Zealand), Jamie Nutbrown (New Zealand)

TMO: Vinny Munro (New Zealand)