Crusaders Thump Highlanders

The vaunted Crusaders proved a bit too much
for the Highlanders to handle

Dunedin, NZ:  It was a tough night for the home side.  This much-anticipated Rugby Super XV showdown between two of NZ’s top teams couldn’t, in the end, live up to expectations.  The host Otago Highlanders have gotten off to an unexpected strong start to their season, after missing out on the playoffs since 2003.  With three wins and one loss, this rag-tag side of blue-collar players – not a star among them – has pulled off a few early upsets with gritty wins against teams from Wellington, Perth and Pretoria, all on the road (Super XV is the professional rugby union conference with 5 teams from NZ, 5 from Australia, and 5 from South Africa).

It was a spirited but friendly crowd...

Their arch-rivals, the Canterbury Crusaders, made the short trip down from Christchurch, in need of a victory as their city continues to recover from the earthquake, and the recent depressing news that they would lose their right to host Rugby 2011 World Cup matches due to damage from the quake.  Their team of highly-touted all-stars (think Yankees, here) was looking to take out an entire region’s frustration on the team from Otago. 

Amy and I had decided that the underdogs from Otago were our kind of team… So we bought our Highlanders flag and found our seats in the stadium.  There was definite excitement in the air, with fans decked out in the blue and yellow of Otago or the red and black of Canterbury.  It was a good-natured crowd, though, with husbands and wives or fathers and sons supporting opposite teams from each other, and fully decorated in face paint and shirts of their favored teams.  Fortunately, there was a 6-year old boy behind us who knew exactly what was going on and was basically doing his own play-by-play during the entire match… otherwise, we most certainly would have been lost.

The match was close from the start, with Otago missing a few early good opportunities to score some points off of some penalties, and Canterbury looking dangerous with their all-star back-line of speedy, quick-passing all-stars.  Conceding a late score just before half-time, the home side trailed 13-6 –but well-within striking distance. 

The Highlanders push through in the final minutes
for their consolation try

Alas, the second half was not so close… The Crusaders broke through the Highlanders defense again… and again… and again.  18-6… 25-6… 32-6… 37-6… 44-6.  As time wound down, the Highlanders, refusing to give up, mounted one final charge… they pushed right up against the Crusaders line… and urged on by the supportive crowd, crashed through for one final score, giving the home fans at least something to cheer about.  Perhaps it was a mere moral victory… or perhaps the Highlanders were sending a message that they wouldn’t be so easy to defeat if the two sides meet again in the playoffs. 

Final score:  Crusaders 44, Highlanders 13. 

Although our team lost, we have big hopes for their season.  Our adopted English football side, Fullham, went on to their greatest season after we decided to lend them our support, eventually falling in the championship of the European cup.  So we’ll continue to follow the Highlanders’ progress as the season continues and expect to see them back in the playoffs this year.