Game number five, loss number five. That is the depressing statistic for the Highlanders after the were beaten 34-33 by the Reds at Forsyth Barr Stadium tonight.
The side was picked to be a force this season but it is slumped at the bottom of the table and showed plenty of reasons why tonight.
It coughed up too much ball, gave away too many penalties, and kicked away valuable ball.
The Reds had plenty of energy in the forwards, and played the game right at the advantage line.
In behind halfback Will Genia was composed while Quade Cooper had one of those games where he was more hot than cold.
For the Highlanders, halfback Aaron Smith had his best game of the season, Brad Thorn got around the park, and Chris King worked hard all game.
The Highlanders had few attacking chances, and are just making the simple things look hard.
The Reds struck early in the match with a try to hooker James Hanson after just five minutes.
Cooper found a gap about 15m out, fed the ball back in, and in the resulting scramble Hanson crawled over to score the try.
Cooper added the extras but Colin Slade got the first points on the board or the Highlanders on eight minutes with a penalty straight out in front.
He added another a few minutes later.
The Highlanders then went ahead after 19 minutes. The Reds conceded a penalty near their own tryline and Aaron Smith took a quick tap, and put No 8 Elliot Dixon into a slight gap and he barged over from 5m out.
But it was a see-sawing first half and the Reds went back in front when impressive flanker Liam Gill burrowed over from a lineout drive and Cooper added the extras.
The Highlanders were looking loose on defence and skipper Andrew Hore was yellow carded for appearing in the Reds backline when the Australian side was hard on attack.
Cooper hit the post with the upright but it did not matter because from the resulting rebound, and a few hit-ups, No 8 Jake Schatz went over under the posts.
The Highlanders though had the final say of the first half with Slade banging over his third penalty.
Reds 34 (James Hanson, Liam Gill, Jake Schatz, Will Genia tries, Quade Cooper 4 con, 2 pen) Highlanders 33(Hosea Gear, Elliot Dixon, Ma'a Nonu tries, Colin Slade con, 3 pen, Lima Sopoaga 2 con, pen ) Halftime: 21-16 Reds.
