Hodgman red card helps Highlanders

TONY Brown’s Highlanders kept their Aotearoa final hopes alive with a surprise 35-29 victory over the Blues on Friday.

Highlanders were dealt an injury blow midweek when rookie sensation Connor Garden-Bachop was ruled out for the season with a broken wrist, but responded brilliantly in his absence.

The Blues opened the scoring with a converted try by scrum half Jonathan Ruru, as he intercepted Aaron Smith’s pass on his own try line.

Highlanders responded with a penalty from Josh Ioane and a close range converted try from Japanese international Kazuki Himeno after a tapand-go by Smith.

Things went from bad to worse for the Blues as No.8 Hoskins Sotutu was yellow carded for tripping up Josh Dickson.

That was followed by Josh Ioane’s try but the Blues hit back with Reiko

Ioane’s converted try and Otere Black’s penalty before Ngatungane Punivai’s converted touchdown put the Highlanders in front at half time.

Jona Nareki’s try out wide and a penalty from Mitch Hunt extended the Highlanders lead but Nepo Laulala crossed to keep the Blues in touching distance.

However, the Blues’ Alex Hodgman was red carded for a shoulder to the head and Highlanders took advantage of their extra man with a converted try from Michael Collins before a late consolation score from Sotutu.

In Saturday’s thriller the Chiefs saw off champions Crusaders 26-25 to put themselves in pole position for the Aotearoa final.

Leicester Fainga’anuku opened the scoring with a converted try but Chiefs replied with three Damian McKenzie penalties.

Crusaders responded with a Richie Mo’unga penalty and a converted try by Will Jordan.

Chiefs’ Lachlan Boshier crossed to make it a onepoint game. Codie Taylor scored his sixth touchdown of the tournament for Crusaders before the Chiefs went back in front with a converted try out wide from Jonah Lowe.

Mo’unga and McKenzie traded penalties but Naitoa Ah Kuoi’s last gasp penalty turnover sealed an emphatic win.