The Scarfies were back on Friday evening and cheerful. To start with they had little to cheer about as the Blues did all the attacking. Initially it was not effective attacking as they made far more phases than metres. Still they had the first chance to score but Luke McAlister hit the upright and the ball stayed out.

Then they were the first to score.

They countered from a long way out and Joe Rokocoko had a moment of brilliance. He dummied and accelerated and when he was tackled he popped a perfect ball back to Anthony Tuitavake. This was going down the left. The ball came back right and Tasesa Lavea suddenly broke and accelerated.  He played to Ali Williams on his left. The lock gave to burly No.8 Nick Williams who surged over near the posts. McAlister converted and the Blues led 7-0 after seven minutes.

After this the Highlanders got more into the match as the Blues conceded penalties and free kicks at scrum time.

Evans missed a penalty. He had a second chance when the referee ignored what looked like a spear tackle and left the penalty to the Highlanders, which Evans goaled.

At this stage McAlister left the field in obvious pain and clutching a jaw after a collision with Evans. Chunky Rua Tipoki took his place.

The Blues were having problems with self-control at scrums. When they were free-kicked, Craig Newby tapped and charged. Ben Blair came in from fullback, dummied into a gap and popped a great pass to Tom Donnelly who scored far out. Evans converted. 10-7 to the Highlanders.

Just before half-time the Blues attacked again with Nick Williams and Rua Tipoki prominent and Isa Nacewa did well on counterattack.

The Highlanders scored first in the second half when Evans goaled a penalty. Lavea, kicking instead of McAlister, answered with another. 13-10 to the home side.

Then the Highlander lost Roy Kinikinilau to the sin bin after one of many high tackles in the match.

While he was off the Blues did not score, but his own side did - a fortuitous try.

The Blues were attacking when Tuitavake lobbed a high pass which tall Vilimoni Delasau intercepted on his 22. He raced away, nobody near stopping him, and scored at the posts. Evans converted. 20-10.

When James Ryan was penalised for obstruction at a line-out, Lavea made it 20-13.

Ryan may have been penalised but he was a real thorn in the Blues flesh at the line-out, one they seemed incapable of countering. Ryan won a line-out on the Highlanders' right and they spun the ball to the far left where Kinikinilau was just short, as the television match official advised.

That produced a five-metre scrum. Evans stabbed a short grubber into the Blues' in-goal. Doug Howlett and Kinikinilau dived for the ball. Eventually and with great difficulty the TMO advised that a try had been scored. 25-13 with ten minutes to play.

The Blues had the better of those ten minutes but the Highlanders' defence held. When Lavea chipped, Evans was there to boot the ball into touch. When Lavea chipped, Neil Brew was there to claim a mark on his line. When the siren went the Blues had the ball, but Seilala Mapusua produced a thumping tackle which won a turnover, and Evans kicked the ball out to the joy of all Carisbrook.

Man of the Match: Keven Mealamu had good moments in the loose, but as captain and hooker he was unable to ensure his side sure ball at the line-outs. Tasesa Lavea did many excellent things. For the Highlanders Carl Hayman was all things powerful, James Ryan all things athletic and effective and our Man of the Match Nick Evans the most effective of all with his long boot and his accurate boot, with his distribution, with his defensive work.

The scorers:

For the Highlanders:
Tries: Donnelly, Delasau, Kinikinilau
Cons: Evans 2
Pens: Evans 2

For the Blues:
Try: Williams
Con: McAlister
Pen: Lavea

Yellow card: Roy Kinikinilau (Highlanders, 53)

The teams:

Highlanders: 15 Ben Blair, 14 Vilimoni Delasau, 13 Neil Brew, 12 Seilala Mapusua, 11 Roy Kinikinilau, 10 Nick Evans, 9 Jimmy Cowan, 8 Craig Newby, 7 Josh Blackie, 6 Hoani MacDonald, 5 James Ryan, 4 Tom Donnelly, 3 Carl Hayman, 2 Anton Oliver (captain), 1 Nick White.
Replacements: 16 Jason Macdonald, 17 Chris King, 18 Filipo Levi, 19 Tim Boys, 20 Toby Morland, 21 Callum Bruce, 22 Richard Kahui

Blues: 15 Isa Nacewa, 14 Doug Howlett, 13 Anthony Tuitavake, 12 Luke McAlister, 11 Joe Rokocoko, 10 Tasesa Lavea, 9 Steve Devine, 8 Nick Williams, 7 Daniel Braid, 6 Justin Collins, 5 Ali Williams, 4 Greg Rawlinson, 3 John Afoa, 2 Kevin Mealamu (captain), 1 Tony Woodcock.
Replacements: 16 Tim Dow, 17 Saimone Taumoepeau, 18 Kurtis Haiu, 19 Anthony Boric, 20 John Senio, 21 Rua Tipoki, 22 Vili Waqaseduadua.

Referee: Chris Pollock (New Zealand)
Touch judges: Gary Wise, Chris Rooney (both New Zealand)
Television match official: Brent Murray (New Zealand)
Assessor: Alan Bateman (New Zealand)