Landers dig deep to spoil the party

IT might not be enough to spark a party at Tony Brown’s, but at least the Highlanders can enjoy next week’s bye on the back of a win.

Their thrilling 26-20 win against the Blues in Dunedin last night marked their third on the trot and, more importantly, lifted them above the Blues and off the bottom of the New Zealand conference.

It also locked up the Gordon Hunter Memorial Trophy for at least another year, and ensured midfielder Sonny Bill Williams’ Blues debut ended with a loss.

Williams, making his longawaited return to rugby since rupturing his Achilles tendon during last year’s Rio Olympics, was injected into the match in the 55th minute of the game.

The big man looked sharp enough in his first game of rugby since the 2015 World Cup final against the Wallabies, but it wasn’t the Blues’ night.

Like their 16-12 loss to the Highlanders in an error-ridden eye-sore in Auckland last month, the Blues’ hands let them down when they needed them most.

They had multiple chances in the second half, including a giltedged opportunity blown by Sam Prattley, who took a sharp Williams offload but didn’t pass to the two unmarked players outside him.

Moments later, it was Williams who botched a raid after a limp pass found the turf and was hacked away by Highlanders pivot Marty Banks.

The Blues dominated possession and territory to hold a deserved 20-13 lead at halftime, before the Highlanders struck back with an early second half try to Malakai Fekitoa.

It was the midfielder’s fourth try in five games against the team which didn’t want him in 2014, and swung momentum their way in front of a rowdy crowd at Forsyth Barr Stadium.

After nailing all eight shots at goal last week, Banks continued his fine form with the boot by landing another six off the tee.

He has kicked 19 out of 19 this season.

The Blues, who haven’t won an away New Zealand derby since round two of the 2013 season (Hurricanes), will no doubt rue their inability to put two halves together.

Led by wing Matt Duffie, who took three brilliant bombs in the first four minutes of the match, the Blues had the Highlanders on the back foot for much of the first half.

Duffie was also heavily involved in their first try, when he busted the Highlanders open out wide, before feeding Augustine Pulu inside.

The Blues, who still haven’t won in Dunedin since 2011, had ample chances to strike late.

They couldn’t add to their halftime score as the Highlanders’ scrambling defence held firm.