There was the odd scratchy error, but in a 31-24 win over the Chiefs at Carisbrook on Saturday, the Highlanders showed enough hints of promise and potential for the new season.
Most importantly, for the team and the supporters alike, the side got in front near the end and held on to the lead.
After a memory of so many close losses over the past couple of seasons, it was good to see the Highlanders finally stand resolute as the Chiefs tried to at least tie up the game at the end.
Nippy Chiefs halfback Tawera Kerr-Barlow made a break down the blindside with time up but he was met by a tough tackle by Highlanders fullback Israel Dagg, who tied up the ball and won a penalty for his side to end the game.
That the Highlanders clawed themselves back into the frame after being down 19-5 and 24-10, and then stayed in front for the final 10 minutes, showed the side was growing, said coach Glenn Moore.
"We talked at half-time about getting taking the ball closer to their defence and the holes would open up," Moore said.
"Staying ahead is something that we are trying to grow in the group and get experience with."
Moore said the side was a bit slow to start in the first 20 minutes, but had slowly warmed to the task.
"We were down there in periods of the first half for quite a long time without getting anything.
We talked about being patient and we wanted to keep attacking.
That is something we have put a big emphasis on."
The side came back to tie the match up with tries to winger James Paterson and prop Jamie Mackintosh.
The match-winning try came from a break from Paterson, set up by an inside ball from Mathew Berquist, with Sean Romans cantering over beneath the posts.
Impressive games for the Highlanders came from No 8 Steven Setephano, who showed some pace, got around the field and was tigerish in the tackle.
There were encouraging signs, too, that winger Fetu'u Vainikolo has left last year's forgettable form behind.
Moore said Vainikolo had gone away after the end of last season and put in the work.
"We gave him a very clear message on what he had to work on and he has gone away and worked really hard.
Hopefully, we can get him back to what we see in 2008 and we know he is a real confidence player."
Ryan Shortland, although he did not have many minutes on the paddock, looked comfortable at this level while Romans ran hard, and set up a try, as well as scoring the winner.
Best up front was flanker Tim Boys, who got through plenty of work, and lock Hoani Matenga was prominent at times.
There were few scrums and hooker Jason Rutledge was busy, although he failed to find his jumpers too often at line-out time.
Big No 8 Nasi Manu suffered a bang to the shoulder and had to leave the field, but the injury is not believed to be serious.
The Chiefs started like a house on fire, with hooker Aled de Malmanche scoring after two minutes and when fullback Tim Nanai-Williams went over midway through the third quarter, the game looked in the bag for the visitors. Returning centre Richard Kahui improved as the game went on but struggled for ball.
The Highlanders did score two of their tries while Chiefs replacement winger Siale Piutau was in the sin bin, after being penalised for not rolling away at the breakdown.Chiefs coach Ian Foster was pleased to get a hit-out and was happy with the first 20 minutes but his team had to do a lot of defending, and some of the players may have got a bit fatigued.
He felt the Highlanders had more ball in the second half and made the most of it.
Highlanders v Chiefs
Carisbrook, Saturday
Highlanders 31
Bronson Murray, John Hardie, James Paterson, Jamie Mackintosh, Sean Romans tries, Mathew Berquist 3 conversions
Chiefs 24
Aled de Malmanche, Jason Hona, Hikairo Forbes, Tim Nanai-Williams tries, Trent Renata 2 conversionsHalf-time: 19-10 Chiefs.
Crowd: 1800.
