Wilson, Brown key figures in win
Special Correspondent Witbank:

Jeff Wilson's individual brilliance and Tony Brown's goal-kicking helped the Highlanders to a last gasp 42-40 win over the Bulls at van Riebeeck Stadium yesterday. Wilson's two solo tries and Brown's injury time penalty goal kept the Bulls winless and gave the Highlanders' semifinal prospects a major boost. They scored five tries to three to gain their first away win of the tournament but they did it the hard way, Brown kicking the winner from 25m with the last act of the game in the 13th minute of injury time.

The Highlanders, down 13-20 at half-time, seemed to have the match in safe keeping when they struck back to lead 34-23 after the third quarter and 39-30 with 15 minutes remaining. But Jannie de Beer's boot and the sin-binning of substitute loose forward Paul Miller for over-vigorous rucking gave the game another twist. Bulls captain Ruben Kruger rumbled over for a try from a line-out drive, de Beer converted and the Highlanders seemed down for the count as the Bulls, ahead 40-39, swarmed back to attack. But de Beer made two mistakes which let the Highlanders back in the game. He missed an acutely angled penalty and then knocked on a lobbed pass from Joost van der Westhuizen. Pita Alatini and Wilson broke out from the ensuing scrum and, when referee Scott Young penalised the Bulls at a ruck 25m out and 15m from touch, Brown coolly kicked his seventh goal from nine attempts.

There was jubilation from the Highlanders after their great escape but they were quick to acknowledge the hiccups which preceded their Houdini act. Captain Taine Randell paid tribute to the "magic" of Wilson and the temperament of Brown but described it as a "bizarre" game. "We wanted to do so much better but the Bulls got their tails up, really hooked into it and made life tough for us. "We squeaked through but we've got a few things to address before we play the Waratahs." Wilson, after celebrating his 50th Super 12 game in style, even spared a thought for the Bulls. "I feel pretty sorry for them - they played so well. But we got lucky and we've given ourselves a chance. I can't say enough about Brownie. I was nervous for him but it was a brilliant kick." Peter Sloane was a relieved coach after the Highlanders regained their place in the top four. "We made hard work of it, didn't we? But we stuck at it and now our destiny is in our own hands. We need to find some more energy when we get to Sydney. "It's a short turnaround and a big ask but we've got everything to play for."

Byron Kelleher scored the Highlanders' only try of the first half after a slickly executed scrum move with Randell but de Beer kept the Bulls' score ticking over with a succession of penalty goals. The Highlanders lifted their intensity and accuracy with four tries in the first 25 minutes of the second spell. Wing Rua Tipoki scored after prop Joe McDonnell found himself in space and burst more than 30m and Josh Kronfeld scored his first try of the season, a fitting reward for he had forced the turnover. And then there was Wilson. He sped 65m for his first try, scything through from a line-out and beating Bulls fullback Hannes Venter on the outside. His second try was just as spectacular as he beat three tacklers from 30m out, regained his feet after he was ankle-tapped and crashed over in the tackle. That should have been the clincher but there were some anxious moments before the Highlanders clawed their way back to clinch a dramatic victory.

The Highlanders lost lock John Blaikie with suspected concussion early in the second spell when he was led from the field after a sickening clash of heads with opposite Wium Basson. "He was okay afterwards but we're not putting anywone at risk and we'll have John checked out," Sloane said.