Cam Roigard’s heroics stun Highlanders as Hurricanes steal thriller

Cam Roigard was the hero for the Hurricanes, scoring a last-gasp try to steal a thrilling 24-20 win over the Highlanders at Wellington’s Sky Stadium. Some costly mistakes cost the visitors late in the contest, with the Canes stepping up when it counted.

Wearing a Captain America jersey, Roigard delivered a heroic moment even the Avengers would be proud of. It’s a massive result for both teams, with the Canes still a chance of finishing in the top four at season’s end.

While the ladder suggested the Hurricanes were firm favourites, the Highlanders played with a wealth of confidence and momentum early on, and were ultimately rewarded. After making their way up the field, the Landers left the Canes momentarily stunned behind the sticks.

Jonah Lowe opened the scoring inside the first two minutes, with the winger reaching out for the first try of the evening while some fans would’ve still been making their way to their seats at the famed ‘Cake Tin’ in Wellington.

Taine Robinson added the extras, and things went from bad to worse for the Canes soon after as backrower Brayden Iose left the field with an ankle injury. Iose tried playing on after receiving treatment but only lasted another minute before hobbling off the pitch.

But the Hurricanes had swung some of the match’s momentum back in their favour leading up that, ultimately making their way into the Highlanders’ 22. Ruben Love was heavily involved as the Canes spread the ball wide, with Bailyn Sullivan fighting to the line in the 11^th minute.

After scoring four tries off the bench against the Chiefs in round 12, Sullivan’s name was once again back up in lights. Love and Sullivan have benefited from some clever link-up play from Callum Harkin and Billy Proctor leading up the score.

Love added the extras with a well-struck conversion attempt from practically the right sideline, which levelled the scores at 7-all. But that stalemate didn’t last long, with some brilliance from fullback Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens setting up a try of the season contender.

Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens beat a defender, threw a dummy, and then sent a cross-field kick to Tanielu Tele’a who was unmarked on the right edge. Tele’a passed the ball onto Lowe, who linked up with Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens with a one-two, which saw the winger cross for another.

The Highlanders lost inside centre Timoci Tavatavanawai for 10 minutes midway through the first half, but it didn’t trouble the visitors on the scoreboard, who went into the break with a hard-fought 14-7 lead.

Pasilio Tosi had come very close to scoring in the 30^th minute, but the All Black dropped the ball a metre short of the try line – with five defenders hanging off the loose forward-turned-prop. But in a game of fine margins, this was another massive moment to speak of.

But the Hurricanes went somewhat make amends early in the second term, with replacement Fehi Fineanganofo breaking down the left wing in the lead-up to a crucial try. Roigard noticed a gap from the base of a ruck, and quickly made the visitors pay.

Love added the conversion and knocked over a penalty goal soon after, which gave the Canes a three-point lead. Fineanganofo and Harkin both came close to scoring during the second half, but this slender lead is all the Hurricanes could manage.

With so much on the line for both teams, it was an incredibly tense final quarter of the match, with the visitors taking charge after two penalties from Robinson. Almost suddenly, the Highlanders had snatched the lead back, up 20-17.

That second penalty had the Highlanders nine minutes away from their first win over the Canes in Wellington since the 2015 Super Rugby Final. More history was waiting to be written, but there was still plenty of rugby yet to be played in this round 14 derby.

The Hurricanes were awarded a penalty with less than five minutes left, but opted for a scrum, but that set-piece opportunity didn’t go to plan. Roigard sent a wayward pass into touch, which gave the Highlanders possession deep inside their own half.

Love created something special from nothing, returning a clearance kick to leave the Canes in a strong position late in the contest, but Tavatavanawai won a penalty at the breakdown. The visitors had a chance to clear, but a mistake at the lineout gifted the Canes a free kick.

The Hurricanes gave it everything. With a couple of penalty advantages going their way, the hosts hurdled wave after wave of attacking pressure at the Highlanders, and eventually, something had to give.

There would be no Super Point.

Roigard scored with the final play of the game to steal the win.