Highlanders and Crusaders win to start round 6 of Super Rugby Pacific

Moana Pasifika mid fielder Danny Toala tackles Highlanders centre Fetuli Paea.
Photo: Brett Phibbs / PhotoSport

The Highlanders and Crusaders scored contrasting wins in Super Rugby Pacific.

The Highlanders extended Moana Pasifika’s winless streak to six games with a 45-17 victory at Mt Smart Stadium in Auckland.

The southerners scored seven tries to two in the bonus point win after leading 19-17 at the break.

It is the Southeners third win in a row and moves them up to sixth place on the table.

Moana Pasifika scored the first try of the game and were only two points behind the Highlanders at halftime but would be kept scoreless for the second half as the visitors were relentless in the last 20 minutes of the game.

Read how the game unfolded here.

Meanwhile the Crusaders scored a hardfought 25-12 victory over the Reds in Brisbane.

The Crusaders lost All Blacks prop George Bower to a leg injury late in the game.

The Crusaders led 15-7 at half time in what was a scrappy game.

Leicester Fainga’anuku and Dom Gardner scored first half tries, while Willie Heinze touched down in the second half…. Richie Mo’unga kicked two conversions and two penalties.

The Crusaders are third on the table.

On Saturday the Chiefs play the Blues.