Brumbies battle back after halftime deficit to beat Highlanders

The Brumbies have won a see-sawing battle against the Highlanders with the ACT side continuing to find their Super Rugby Pacific form with a 27-21 victory in Dunedin.

The visitors were leading by two points before hooker Lachlan Lonergan sealed the win with a 75th-minute try on Saturday afternoon after his team mauled the ball over the line.

Five-eighth Noah Lolesio then converted the try to push it out to a match-winning margin.

Highlanders playmaker Sam Gilbert was able to salvage a bonus point with a successful penalty kick after fulltime.

It was the Brumbies’ third successive win over the Highlanders although they hadn’t won at Forsyth Barr Stadium since 2013.

The home side took an 11-7 lead into halftime after opening the scoring through a penalty strike by Gilbert and then a try to Nikora Broughton.

The No.8 capitalised on a Brumbies error and kicked the ball into the in-goal, winning the race to touch down.

The Brumbies opted against taking a penalty kick and built on their phases in attack before being rewarded with a try in the 23rd minute to fullback Tom Wright.

The visitors cleaned up their game in the second half, particularly around the breakdown, and were first on the scoreboard when winger Corey Toole used pure pace to race around the defence.

Their lead was out to 17-11 after Lolesio added the conversion and then another penalty.

But the Highlanders kept coming and were back in the lead after flanker Billy Harmon dragged five Brumbies defenders along as he stormed over from 10 metres out.

The Brumbies kept their composure and went in front 20-18 in the 65th minute off the boot of Lolesio.

Coach Stephen Larkham emptied his bench and came up trumps through Lonergan’s effort to give his team their third win from four games.

They do have some injury concerns with prop Blake Schoupp and centre Len Ikitau both forced off late in the first half.