Final Score: Highlanders 31 - 29 Moana PasifikaDate: February 28, 2025Venue: North Harbour Stadium, Auckland
Moana Pasifika produced a thrilling second-half comeback but fell just short in a 31-29 loss to the Highlanders in Round 3 of Super Rugby Pacific. A fast-finishing Moana side dominated the closing stages, but the Highlanders' first-half blitz proved enough to secure a narrow victory.
First Half: Highlanders Take Control with a 21-Point Blitz
The Highlanders got off to a dream start, striking within the first two minutes when Nathan Hastie finished off a well-worked move under the posts. Sam Gilbert’s conversion made it 7-0 early.
Moana Pasifika responded quickly through Sione Mafileo (11’), who powered over the line, but missed conversions from William Havili meant they couldn't capitalise fully.
From there, the Highlanders took control, launching a devastating 10-minute period before halftime:
Caleb Tangitau intercepted a pass (31’) and sprinted 95 meters for a try, shifting the momentum firmly in the Highlanders' favor.
Tanielu Tele’a (34’) and Max Dunshea (38’) added further tries, punishing Moana’s defensive lapses.
Sam Gilbert converted all three tries, giving the Highlanders a commanding 31-10 halftime lead.
Second Half: Moana Pasifika’s Stunning Comeback
Whatever Tana Umaga said at halftime worked. Moana Pasifika came out with renewed energy, tightening their defense and attacking with purpose.
Ardie Savea (46’) sparked the comeback, intercepting a kick and sprinting over the try line.
William Havili (65’) added another try, set up by a clever attacking play. Patrick Pellegrini converted both tries, closing the gap to 22-31.
With five minutes to go, Semisi Tupou Ta’eiloa (75’) crashed over, and Pellegrini’s conversion made it 29-31, setting up a grandstand finish.
With Moana Pasifika pressing for a match-winning score, TK Howden’s crucial lineout steal in the final minute saved the Highlanders, allowing them to close out the game and escape with a hard-fought win.
Key Takeaways for Moana Pasifika
✅ Resilient Second Half – After a poor first half, Moana Pasifika dominated the second 40 minutes, showing grit and determination.
✅ Impact of Key Players – Ardie Savea was everywhere, Millennium Sanerivi and Sama Malolo provided strong carries, and Pellegrini’s bench impact suggests he could start next week.
❌ Slow Start & Defensive Lapses – Conceding 21 points in the last 10 minutes of the first half proved costly. Moana will need to improve their early-game defence.
❌ Missed Kicks at Goal – Havili’s missed conversions in the first half ultimately made a difference, highlighting an area for improvement.
What’s Next?
Moana Pasifika will be disappointed to have let this one slip but can take confidence from their second-half performance. They now prepare for another big challenge against the Hurricanes next week, looking to turn their strong finish into a full 80-minute performance.
For the Highlanders, this win comes as a relief after a shaky second half. They now head into a bye before facing the Hurricanes in a fortnight.
While the result didn’t go their way, this match showed Moana Pasifika’s potential—if they can put together a complete performance, wins will surely follow.losses into wins as the season progresses.
Yorumlar