Highlanders Secure Hard Fought Victory Over Moana Pasifika in Christchurch Debut

The Highlanders secure a 27-17 victory over Moana Pasifika at Christchurch's new Te Kaha Stadium. Second half tries from Lennox and Ta'avao proved decisive.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 27, 2026, 4:03 AM EDT

Source: RNZ Pacific

Indoor Spectacle at Te Kaha Stadium

In their first ever appearance at Christchurch’s state of the art Te Kaha Stadium, the Highlanders and Moana Pasifika delivered a pulsating display of enterprising rugby. Playing under the roof for the first time at this venue, both teams took advantage of the still conditions to prioritize speed and expansive ball movement. While the match remained scoreless for the opening 25 minutes due to intense defensive pressure, the deadlock was eventually broken when Jonah Lowe found space on the exterior to coast over for the Highlanders' first try.

Moana Pasifika's First Half Resilience

Moana Pasifika responded to the opening deficit with remarkable physicality and tactical precision. A powerful run by Semisi Tupou Ta'eiloa breached the Highlanders' 22 meter line, setting the stage for a spectacular aerial effort. Flyhalf Willy Havili executed a perfectly weighted cross field kick, allowing Israel Leota to outleap his markers and score. Shortly before the interval, Glen Vaihu exploited a one on one defensive mismatch against Cam Millar to sprint clear, handing Moana Pasifika a narrow 10-7 lead at the break.

Second Half Surge and Tactical Adjustments

The momentum shifted back to the Highlanders early in the second half through the clinical kicking of Cam Millar, who leveled the scores with a penalty. The southern side then reclaimed the lead when veteran prop Angus Ta'avao powered over the line from short range. A key tactical highlight followed as Adam Lennox, who had transitioned from halfback to the wing during the match, demonstrated elite sprinting speed. Lennox latched onto a well placed grubber kick from Jacob Ratumaitavuki Kneepkens to outpace the cover defense and extend the lead.