Only six minutes later the Chiefs hit back – the best way they know how with a rolling maul resulting in Samisoni Taukei’aho falling over the line before a Josh Jacomb levelled the scores.
Jacomb, who had another strong outing, was lucky to escape a yellow for an intentional knock on inside his own 22.
In the 33rd minute, the Highlanders had a great chance to take the lead, attacking on the tryline and with numbers out wide Cameron Millar decided to kick wide to a chasing Sean Withy. The loose forward just couldn’t bring the ball in. But quick-thinking by Quinn Tupaea turned a possible seven points at one end into seven down the other.
The All Blacks midfielder did a short goalline dropout to himself, ran free to halfway, brought in a defender and handed the ball to Leroy Carter who finished off the length of the field try.
The Chiefs had a chance to extend their 14-7 lead just before the break but the Highlanders defence held strong and forced a knock-on.
Two Millar penalties to start the second half cut the Chiefs’ lead to 14-13 and the Highlanders threatened to take the lead before Josh Lord ran more than 50m and passed to a supporting Tupou Vai’i before Nareki was yellow carded for a professional foul by holding onto Vai’i.
The Chiefs couldn’t convert the attacking chance with Taukei’aho denied from back of a rolling maul when reserve halfback Adam Lennox held him up.
The Highlanders only just survived the 10 minutes down a man when a kick into the in goal bounced awkwardly and into the path of Simon Parker but on checking the grounding the TMO said failed to ground.
But only moments after Nareki ran back on the field, a lineout from their own five metre line went over the intended man, with the ball tipped by Oliver Haig towards Taukei’aho who pounced on the loose ball and dived over for a second, making it 21-13 with 18 minutes left.
Five minutes later, the Chiefs turned down a chance at three and it proved to be the correct call when Kaylum Boshier dived over from close range.
Down 26-13 the Highlanders weren’t out of it. Caleb Tangitau scored a great solo try from 48m out but the missed conversion left them eight down with less than four to play. That proved vital, as Veveni Lasaqa scored after the hooter in what was a consolation try.
The defeat means the Highlanders haven’t won consecutive derby matches since June 2018 – a run of 67 matches.