Send-off moment change game
ONE moment changed the game on Saturday night and it is unlikely to be the last match this season which ends this way.
New laws which have been introduced this season to clamp down on foul play have already led to players being marched from the field.
Blues loose forward Steven Luatua was redcarded on Friday night against the Chiefs for a high tackle, which was a gamechanger. On Saturday night against the Crusaders at Forsyth Barr Stadium, Highlanders centre Malakai Fekitoa was yellowcarded with just under 10 minutes to go.
He was ruled to have been careless in the air when he collided with Crusaders fullback David Havili.
It was a headscratcher for most as both men appeared to be going for the ball. But it came back to having to take care of players in the air.
One man down and with the Crusaders coming home with plenty of steam, the Highlanders could not hold on and conceded two tries in the final five minutes to lose 3027.
Coach Tony Brown said the yellow card was a massive moment in the game.
‘‘It probably won it in the end. For me personally, it is play on. That is just footy, everyone was going for the ball,‘‘ he said.
Going down to 14 men was a big impact on any side.
‘‘When you are just hanging on it does. Maybe Malakai could have stopped that try at the end with the extra number there. The yellow card was the biggest moment in the game.’’
Highlanders lock Alex Ainley said the game was one which got away on the side as the All Blackladen Crusaders pack took over.
‘‘It just felt like we were defending all game, really, and at the end there they had the legs on us. Our plan was to kick it and those kicks were not paying off and they were playing with ball in our half,’’ Ainley said.
‘‘Not having the ball, not being in the right part of the field and having to scramble on defence doesn’t help. We were probably trying to wind the game down from too far out. It was like 15 minutes out.’’
Ainley did not want to say much about the yellow card but felt both players were going for the ball and neither was intentionally trying to hurt the other.
It was a huge moment in the game, he said.
In the first half, the Crusaders had all the ball but the Highlanders went into the sheds 176 up.
Replacement loose forward Gareth Evans scored the first try after Waisake Naholo took a ball thrown deep from a lineout, broke the line and inpassed to Evans.
Naholo got the second try five minutes from halftime after a beautiful Aaron Smith grubber found open space and Naholo was too quick.
Naholo scored his second try shortly after the halftime break when a Lima Sopoaga chip kick was gathered by Fekitoa who fed a flying Naholo.
The Highlanders were up 276 then but the Crusaders came steaming back and scored the winning try to winger Seta Tamanivalu with less than two minutes to go.
Best for the home team were Naholo and Smith, while up front Liam Squire worked hard as did hooker Liam Coltman.
A In the curtainraiser the Crusaders Knights beat the Highlanders Bravehearts
2112.