Mitch Hunt has written himself into southern derby folk lore with a 40m drop goal to see the Crusaders past the Highlanders in a tense afternoon affair in Christchurch.
After being down by three points with just two minutes to go, the back-up first five fluffed a penalty to win it in the 79th minute.
Getting the ball back through a Highlanders error on the halfway line, the Crusaders pack mastered their way into the attacking half before Hunt put every bit of strength and energy into the drop goal that made it over by less than a metre.
It was a fitting end to a match of epic proportions with both sides going toe-to-toe in what will be likely remembered as the match of the season.
The Highlanders had the better of the territory and the possession throughout the match, only held by some determined Crusaders defence.
The hosts' ability to gain easy territory was telling in both halves with Ryan Crotty and George Bridge the main beneficiaries.
It was a fast start by the Crusaders with Mitch Drummond and Seta Tamanivalu taking the home team out to 12-0, before Richard Buckman got the Highlanders back into the match.
Both teams struggled to get ascendancy in the first half but the Highlanders particularly struggled to make any headway against a determined Crusaders defence.
Crusaders lock Heiden Bedwell-Curtis then scored just before halftime to extend the lead to 19-10.
Whilst they were keen to go wide in the second half, it was ultimate the Crusaders' reckless attack that allowed the Highlanders back into the match, gifting two tries to Highlanders' winger Waisake Naholo.
The win sees the Crusaders extend their winning streak to 14 while it breaks the Highlanders record of nine on the trot.
Newshub.
