The Highlanders possibly produced the upset of the Super 14 season as they outplayed a lethargic Crusaders team to record a rare 26-14 victory at AMI Stadium in Christchurch on Saturday.

The match was Highlanders captain Craig Newby's last for his franchise, and the win provided a fitting end to his career.

It was only the second time in 34 matches that the Crusaders have lost at AMI Stadium.

This was the big shock — the real shock of the 2008 Super 154. One played 11 and 11 won and by a lot more than the 12-point margin suggested. The Crusaders were well beaten and fortunate not to be beaten by a lot more.

It was a shock, and yet there were warning signs last weekend in Brisbane when the Crusaders managed to do a Houdini and escape at the end. This time Houdini was tied too tightly by a hungry Highlander side which attacked them — with the ball and on defence. They rattled the mighty, calm, confident Crusaders and knocked them off their pedestal.

Not really off it, for they still top the table and will still be at AMI Stadium again next weekend. But they have had two serious wake-up calls in successive weekends and must be giving added hope to possible opponents — whoever that may turn out to be. If this sort of upset can happen in the green wood, what could happen in the dry?

This was the first time the Highlanders have beaten the Crusaders in Christchurch since 1996 but in 1996 the Crusaders ended rock bottom, not top. The last time the Highlanders won was in 2001 but then the Crusaders ended 10th in the Super 12. This 2008 result is a weird one.

It was unpredictable even on the cold evening in Christchurch. It started the way the Crusaders seemed likely to continue.

Fetu'u Vainikolo was penalised for crossing inside the Crusaders half. Daniel Carter calmly kicked a brilliant kick out for a line-out five metres from the Highlanders line. Corey Flynn threw in and the Crusaders made a maul and calmly walked it over the line where Flynn dropped to ground for a try.

It was all Crusader clam — clinical and confident. It was almost the last time in the match that they were calm, clinical and confident. Afterwards Richie McCaw said: "We got a bit frantic."

In the second half just three points were scored — a penalty goal by Mike Delany but that did not stop it from being a gripping half as the drama unfolded, the possibility of an unexpected victory/defeat.

Their 5-0 lead lasted a minute. Carter sat back calmly and kicked a diagonal for left wing Sean Maitland. Paul Williams of the highlanders anticipated this and raced onto the ball. Catching it as it dropped near the Crusaders' 10-metre line, he burst through Maitland and ran away from Caleb Ralph to score a try well in. Delaney missed the kick, but the score was 5-5 after 6 minutes.

Delany's kicking was not great and in the second half when they had the Crusaders at their mercy he missed three penalty kicks at goal. Despite that they were able to put the Crusaders to the sword.

When Reuben Thorn was penalised for a high tackle, Delany goaled the simple kick. 8-5 to the Highlanders after 13 minutes. Then Carter kicked one, Delany kicked one and Carter kicked another to make it 11-11 after 28 minutes.

The Crusaders had had a spell of attack through fast phases but it died on a forward pass. Brittle hands would beset them for the entire match, perhaps because of the pressure of the zestful Highlanders. There was a scrum after that forward pass well in Highlanders territory but Craig Newby made ground and booted the ball down. Leon MacDonald, who had surely his worst match ever for the Crusaders, stumbled around the ball and the Highlanders were on the attack which ended with Thorne's high tackle and Delany's penalty goal.

At 11-all the Highlanders grew in confidence. From a line-out on the right enterprising Hayden Triggs forged ahead. Then Daniel Bowden beat Mose Tuiali'i and McCaw and passed inside to Toby Morland who skipped past Brad Thorn to score. Delany converted. 18-11 after 33 minutes.

It was already clear that the hard edge was missing from the Crusaders. Tackles were unenthusiastic and handling uncertain.

When Kade Poke knocked on a simple catch from a kick Newby footed far ahead and the Crusaders were back on their line. They managed to secure the ball but Stephen Brett had his clearing kick charged down by huge Clint Newland. That gave the Highlanders a five-metre scrum just to the left of the posts. From there they battered at the line going right. Triggs went close and then tall Adam Thomson bashed through Brett and with Carter hanging onto his ankles got the ball down on the line for the try. 23-11 after 36 minutes.

Vainikolo had a strong run down the left off a Morland chipped but kicked out. Then when Triggs tackled high Carter made the half time score 23-14.

The Crusaders did not score in the second half. The Highlanders scored just once.

The Crusaders started the half with lots of fast phases but then lost the ball and Trigg hoofed it far downfield. For most of the half the Highlanders attacked. For a lot of it they were actually in the Crusaders' 22. They came to close to getting a penalty try.

Vainikolo kicked a harmless-looking kick down the middle of the field but the Crusaders did their stumble, Maitland played it. The ball hit the padding and bounced back infield where Carter played it. Carter was off-side. The referee considered a penalty try but awarded a penalty instead. The Highlanders tapped and McCaw was not back as far as he should have been and was penalised at the tackle. This time Delany goaled and the referee spoke to McCaw.

The Crusaders mauled well in this match. Apart from their try, they did well on other occasions causing the Highlanders to look fragile. Penalty, maul, penalty — and they were well on the attack, but then they lost the line-out.

Delany may not have kicked well at goal but he and Bowden caused the Crusaders lots of trouble with their incisive running. Delany had a great break and when McCaw was penalised at a tackle he was also shown a yellow card and retired to the sin bin shaking his head. There were just over ten minutes to play.

The rattled Crusaders were frantic. The Highlanders went about their business with deadly intent. The Highlanders won and were gleeful. If 11 beats 1, 11 must be glad. There had been the possibility that the Highlanders would get the wooden spoon. There is now no chance of that.

Man of the Match: Craig Newby for his play and his inspirational leadership. His first match for the Highlanders was against the Crusaders in Christchurch. His last match would also be. He saved the best for last.

Moment of the Match: Paul Williams's try which announced that the Highlanders could win. His anticipation was brilliant.

The scorers:

For the Crusaders:
Try: Flynn
Pens: Carter 3

For the Highlanders:
Tries: Williams, Morland, Thomson
Con: Delany
Pens: Delany 3

Yellow card: Richie Mccaw (Crusaders, 70 - Professional foul, hands in the ruck)

Teams:

Crusaders: 15 Leon MacDonald, 14 Kade Poki, 13 Caleb Ralph, 12 Stephen Brett, 11 Sean Maitland, 10 Daniel Carter, 9 Andrew Ellis, 8 Mose Tuiali'i, 7 Richard McCaw (captain), 6 Reuben Thorne, 5 Ali Williams, 4 Brad Thorn, 3 Greg Somerville, 2 Corey Flynn, 1 Ben Franks.
Replacements: 16 Ti'i Paulo, 17 Wyatt Crockett, 18 Kieran Read, 19 Nasi Manu, 20 Kahn Fotuali'i, 21 Tim Bateman, 22 Casey Laulala.

Highlanders: 15 Mike Delany, 14 Paul Williams, 13 Niva Ta'auso, 12 Johnny Leota, 11 Fetu'u Vainikolo, 10 Daniel Bowden, 9 Toby Morland, 8 Craig Newby (captain), 7 Tim Boys, 6 Adam Thomson, 5 Tom Donnelly, 4 Hayden Triggs, 3 Clint Newland, 2 David Hall, 1 Chris King.
Replacements: 16 Jason Macdonald, 17 Keith Cameron, 18 Isaac Ross, 19 George Naoupu, 20 Jimmy Cowan, 21 Aaron Bancroft, 22 Glen Horton.

Referee: Keith Brown (New Zealand)
Touch judges: Kelvin Deaker (New Zealand), Josh Noonan (New Zealand)
Television match official: Shane McDermott (New Zealand)

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