Matches: Highlanders 20 - 13 Reds

Marty Banks trumped James O'Connor in the battle of the new No.10s, as the Highlanders lodged their first Super Rugby win of the season, 20-13 over the Reds in Dunedin. Both sides remained tryless in the opening half despite several explosive runs and strong breaks, but it was the Reds poor discipline and Banks's boot that proved the difference between the pair with the Highlanders converting four of the five penalties.

Star Reds' recruit O'Connor didn't disappoint in his much anticipated return to Super Rugby, despite some fundamental mistakes, with the 24-year-old making an early break with his first touch of the ball. Cutting straight through the Highlanders defence, O'Connor came within metres of the tryline before he was brought down. But despite O'Connor and Will Genia's half pairing making strong breaks down the field, the Reds struggled to put points on the board, with O'Connor converting one penalty in the opening half.

The Highlanders had problems of their own with the side finding plenty of space and getting within metres of the line several times, but they two struggled to get across the line with the side relying on Banks's strong boot to put three penalties on the board and head into the break 9-3 up over the Reds.

It took only six minutes for the Reds to turn things around in the second half, with Genia making a huge break and crashing over the line only to be held up by his opposite Aaron Smith. The Reds continued to hammer away at the Highlanders defence, and eventually saw Jake Schatz over the line after he found a gap from behind the scrum five metres out from the line.

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