Highlanders v QR Qld Reds Dunedin, NZ 4:35pm - 9/3/2007
33	Round 06	17
	FT

Dunedin's House of Pain - Carisbrook Stadium - lived up to its name again for the QR Queensland Reds as they succumbed to a determined Highlanders side 33-17 in Round six of the Investec Super 14 tournament.

Australian sides have a grim record at Carisbrook and the Reds were unable to break that hoodoo despite some enterprising play in both halves that led to tries by Berrick Barnes and captain John Roe.

Barnes added two conversions and a penalty for a personal tally of 12 points, but was forced off at the 65 minute mark with a shoulder injury.

The Reds were on the backfoot from the start after the Highlanders worked a magnificent backline try from a midfield scrum in only the third minute, to go to a 7-0 lead.

A lone penalty goal to Barnes was the Reds only reward for a long period of territorial domination which the Highlanders survived before going even further ahead with a second try to lead 15-3.

To their credit the Reds got back into the game when fullback Andrew Walker sparked a 50m attacking move that resulted in Barnes' try, handling twice in the movement which also involved a nice step and pass by Ben Tune.

Going in to halftime at 18-10 down, the Reds struck again when some strong forward drives led to Roe's try, converted by Barnes.

But two key refereeing decisions midway through the second half turned the game in favour of the Highlanders: David Croft being sin-binned for a ruck infringement on the line and the Highlanders being awarded a try by the television match official that appeared marginal.

With the game virtually out of reach for the Reds and Barnes leaving the field clutching his shoulder at the 65 minute mark, the Highlanders added the bonus point try five minutes from fulltime to wrap up the match.

Croft's third yellow card in this competition may lead to a disciplinary hearing, however there is no mandatory one week suspension as there is in club rugby.

Highlanders 33 (Aaron Bancroft, Lucky Mulipola, Glen Horton, Jason MacDonald tries; Nick Evans 2 pens 2 cons, Bancroft drop goal) def Reds 17 (Berrick Barnes, John Roe tries; Barnes pen 2 cons) at Carisbrook in Dunedin.