Relive 1 NEWS NOW’s live coverage of tonight's Super Rugby match between the Highlanders and Chiefs at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin.
FULLTIME - HIGHLANDERS 31 CHIEFS 31
It goes right down to the wire and Chiefs manage a draw against the Highlanders. Both teams had a chance to clinch the win late in the game, but just couldn't execute in the final moments of the match.
79 mins: HIGHLANDERS 31 CHIEFS 31
TRY! Chiefs reserve prop Angus Ta'avao goes in for a double! He can thank Luke Jacobson for securing a turnover in the lead-up. Marty McKenzie slots the conversion and we are tied up at 31-31 with 30 seconds remaining on the clock.
78 mins: HIGHLANDERS 31 CHIEFS 24
THREE! Josh Ioane extends the Highlanders lead with a successful 25m+ penalty kick at goal.
74 mins: HIGHLANDERS 28 CHIEFS 24
INJURY! Play has been stopped after Highlanders' co-captain Ben Smith was hit hard by Chiefs' flanker Luke Jacobson at halfway. Replays show that Smith hyper-extended his left knee after slipping into the tackle by Jacobson.
68 mins: HIGHLANDERS 28 CHIEFS 24
TRY! Tyler Ardron powers his way to score down the left edge for the Chiefs! It all began with a great offload from Luke Jacobson who found Solomon Alaimalo, he then links up with Anton Lienert-Brown who then offloads the ball to Ardron who finishes a spectacular play which began at the halfway line.
Marty McKenzie closes the gap with a successful kick at goal.
59 mins: HIGHLANDERS 28 CHIEFS 17
TRY! Angus Ta'avao goes over to score for the Chiefs! An awesome set piece play by the Chiefs, they work it down the blindside off a line-out just outside of the Highlanders' 22. Brad Weber passes the ball to reserve prop Ta'avao who then links up with Nathan Harris. Ta'avao follows through supporting his teammate Harris who throws a perfectly timed pass back on the inside.
Ta'avao goes into score the third try for the Chiefs, Marty McKenzie is unable to convert from the sideline.
53 mins: HIGHLANDERS 28 CHIEFS 12
TRY! A patient build up for the Highlanders and they finally make their way over the try-line. Jackson Hemopo passes the ball to Aaron Smith who then throws a two-man skip out pass to James Lentjes who goes over to score down the left edge.
Josh Ioane keeps his record at 100 per cent with another successful kick at goal from the sideline.
46 mins: HIGHLANDERS 21 CHIEFS 12
TRY! It appeared the Chiefs had done enough to hold out the Highlanders, but Aaron Smith produces a miracle pass for a special Highlanders try. The Highlanders are caught going sideways with Ben Smith tackled 10m out from the try-line. He passes the ball to Aaron Smith and the halfback throws an offload while being tackled by two Chiefs players with Matt Faddes going in to score down the right hand corner.
Josh Ioane nails his conversion attempt from the sideline.
40 mins: HIGHLANDERS 14 CHIEFS 12
And we are back underway! Josh Ioane gets things started with a kick-off towards the Chiefs and Jackson Hemopo gets the ball back for the Highlanders after a brilliant turnover.
HALFTIME - HIGHLANDERS 14 CHIEFS 12
It's a tight one here in Dunedin, the Chiefs are showing great heart on defence and very much in this match. The Highlanders though are looking like the better team on attack, but the Chiefs have taken their opportunities scoring two tries through Brad Weber and Luke Jacobson.
After a frantic first half with both teams happy to run the ball, it will be a battle of fitness to see which team will come out on top in the second spell.
44 mins: HIGHLANDERS 14 CHIEFS 12
TURNOVER! Just as the Chiefs were hot on attack deep in the Highlanders' 22. Highlanders hooker Liam Coltman comes up with a crucial turnover to get his side out of jail. Aaron Smith has a brain explosion as he kicks the ball into touch, forgetting to tap it before booting it. The Highlanders are forced to play the line-out, the home team win their own throw in and Aaron Smith kicks the ball into touch signalling halftime.
35 mins: HIGHLANDERS 14 CHIEFS 12
TRY! Solomon Alaimalo throws a perfect inside pass to Tumua Manu at halfway and he finds himself in acres of space. Manu throws a wide pass to the left edge to Etene Nanai-Seturo who is tackled just 5m short of the try-line by Ben Smith and co.
Luke Jacobson gets his hands on the ball and goes down the blindside, Aaron Smith can't hold onto him and the Chiefs loose forward powers his way to the try-line with Luke Whitlock and Rob Thompson unable to stop the big man close to the white chalk.
Marty McKenzie's conversion attempt is off target from the side-line.
32 mins: HIGHLANDERS 14 CHIEFS 7
NO TRY! Excellent defence from the visitors, the Highlanders forwards rumble it forward towards the Chiefs' goal-line from a line-out maul. But the Chiefs forwards are up to the task and force a turnover, with the referee blowing his whistle and giving the visitors a scrum 5m out from their own goal-line.
20 mins: HIGHLANDERS 14 CHIEFS 7
TRY! Ben Smith has the ball at the back of the ruck and he steps Chiefs hooker Nathan Harris from 5m out and scores the Highlanders' second try.
Josh Ioane has no troubles converting the two-pointer from close range.
15 mins: HIGHLANDERS 7 CHIEFS 7
NO TRY! Highlanders lock Tom Franklin goes hard into contact close to the try-line but Chiefs midfielder Tumua Manu manages to hold him up. The referee goes upstairs to the TMO and he rules the ball wasn't grounded over the try-line.
10 mins: HIGHLANDERS 7 CHIEFS 7
TRY! Chiefs' No.8 Tyler Ardron can't believe it, he breaks through the Highlanders' defence after a nifty inside pass by Mitchell Brown around halfway. He looks around for support and delivers a perfect offload for his halfback Brad Weber. The Chiefs' No.9 shows plenty of speed and he goes all the way to score his side's first try.
Marty McKenzie makes no mistake with his shot at goal.
6 mins: HIGHLANDERS 7 CHIEFS 0
TRY! Highlanders loose forward Elliot Dixon goes on a charging run from the back of a line-out. Which sets up a good platform for the backs. He is tackled just metres short of the try-line, Aaron Smith throws a crisp pass for Highlanders first-five Josh Ioane who goes over to score the first try of the match. A great well-worked set play from the home team.
Ioane is on target as he converts his own try.
3 mins: HIGHLANDERS 0 CHIEFS 0
NO TRY! Anton Lienert-Brown is denied a five-pointer after getting foot to ball first on his own 40m line, the Chiefs midfielder managed to win the race and run 60 metres to ground the ball inside the Highlanders' in-goal.
Replays showed that he had in fact knocked the ball on prior to his 60m run to the try-line.
HIGHLANDERS 0 CHIEFS 0
KICK-OFF! And we are underway! Marty McKenzie gets things started with a deep kick off towards the Highlanders.
PRE-MATCH:
The injury-hit Chiefs have their backs against the wall as they languish at the bottom of the New Zealand Super Rugby conference ladder.
History is on the Highlanders side, winning 15 out 17 of their last home games.
The Highlanders welcome back their fullback and co-captain Ben Smith to the starting team, he missed last week’s match against the Sunwolves due to an enforced All Blacks break.
Brodie Retallick and Sam Cane are still out of action for the Chiefs due to injuries.
A loss tonight for the Chiefs could ruin their hopes for a play-off spot on June 22.
TEAMS:
Highlanders: 1 Daniel Lienert-Brown, 2 Liam Coltman, 3 Tyrel Lomax, 4 Jackson Hemopo, 5 Tom Franklin, 6 Luke Whitelock (co-captain), 7 James Lentjes, 8 Elliot Dixon, 9 Aaron Smith, 10 Josh Ioane, 11 Tevita Li, 12 Teihorangi Walden, 13 Rob Thompson, 14 Matt Faddes, 15 Ben Smith (co-captain).
Reserves: 16 Ash Dixon, 17 Ayden Johnstone, 18 Siate Tokolahi, 19 Josh Dickson, 20 Shannon Frizell, 21 Kayne Hammington, 22 Josh McKay, 23 Patelesio Tomkinson.
Chiefs: 1 Atu Moli, 2 Nathan Harris, 3 Nepo Laulala, 4 Michael Allardice, 5 Mitchell Brown, 6 Luke Jacobson, 7 Lachlan Boshier, 8 Tyler Ardron, 9 Brad Weber, 10 Marty McKenzie, 11 Etene Nanai-Seturo, 12 Anton Lienert-Brown, 13 Tumua Manu, 14 Sean Wainui, 15 Solomon Alaimalo.
Reserves: 16 Liam Polwart, 17 Ryan Coxon, 18 Angus Ta'avao, 19 Jesse Parete, 20 Taleni Seu, 21 Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, 22 Shaun Stevenson, 23 Bailyn Sullivan.
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