WELLINGTON (Reuters) - The Otago Highlanders snapped a three-game losing streak with a 13-6 victory over fellow New Zealanders Wellington in their Super rugby clash in Invercargill on Friday.
Otago scored the only try of the match, to fullback Ben Smith, while Lima Sopoaga added a conversion and two penalties for the home side whose defense and pressure at the breakdown caused problems for the Hurricanes throughout the game.
Aaron Cruden slotted two penalties for the Hurricanes, who welcomed back Ma'a Nonu and Piri Weepu. Scrumhalf Weepu had broken his leg and dislocated his ankle last October.
"It wasn't pretty but the conditions were pretty tough," Highlanders captain Jamie Mackintosh said of the driving rain and chilly temperatures in New Zealand's southernmost city.
"At times it was a pretty physical battle and like I said it may not have been pretty to watch but it was good fun to play ...it was bit of an old fashioned battle," the grizzled loosehead prop added.
The Highlanders had lost their three previous games, all to New Zealand opposition, though the victory moved them to 39 points. While they remain third in the New Zealand conference they will still be in touch with the top six by the end of the weekend.
Hurricanes flyhalf Cruden had opened the scoring with a third minute penalty and while both sides had opportunities to score more points, their defensive lines held out.
Smith scored the only try of the game in the 36th minute after scrumhalf Jimmy Cowan spotted there were no Hurricanes defenders behind a ruck, so he popped a delicate chip kick into space near the line, which the fullback brilliantly regathered and dived over.
Sopoaga added the conversion and then a penalty right on halftime to give the Highlanders a 10-3 lead at the break.
The flyhalf extended the lead to 10 points with his second penalty just after the break, though Cruden reduced that deficit shortly after with his second penalty.
"We were our own worst enemies, too many mistakes and probably let the other team into it," Hurricanes captain Andrew Hore said.
"It's pretty frustrating, we're close but it doesn't get any more fans to come and watch you if you don't win."
Otago scored the only try of the match, to fullback Ben Smith, while Lima Sopoaga added a conversion and two penalties for the home side whose defense and pressure at the breakdown caused problems for the Hurricanes throughout the game.
Aaron Cruden slotted two penalties for the Hurricanes, who welcomed back Ma'a Nonu and Piri Weepu. Scrumhalf Weepu had broken his leg and dislocated his ankle last October.
"It wasn't pretty but the conditions were pretty tough," Highlanders captain Jamie Mackintosh said of the driving rain and chilly temperatures in New Zealand's southernmost city.
"At times it was a pretty physical battle and like I said it may not have been pretty to watch but it was good fun to play ...it was bit of an old fashioned battle," the grizzled loosehead prop added.
The Highlanders had lost their three previous games, all to New Zealand opposition, though the victory moved them to 39 points. While they remain third in the New Zealand conference they will still be in touch with the top six by the end of the weekend.
Hurricanes flyhalf Cruden had opened the scoring with a third minute penalty and while both sides had opportunities to score more points, their defensive lines held out.
Smith scored the only try of the game in the 36th minute after scrumhalf Jimmy Cowan spotted there were no Hurricanes defenders behind a ruck, so he popped a delicate chip kick into space near the line, which the fullback brilliantly regathered and dived over.
Sopoaga added the conversion and then a penalty right on halftime to give the Highlanders a 10-3 lead at the break.
The flyhalf extended the lead to 10 points with his second penalty just after the break, though Cruden reduced that deficit shortly after with his second penalty.
"We were our own worst enemies, too many mistakes and probably let the other team into it," Hurricanes captain Andrew Hore said.
"It's pretty frustrating, we're close but it doesn't get any more fans to come and watch you if you don't win."
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