The nightmare continues for the Highlanders as the side lost 29-18 to the Blues in Auckland tonight.
The side led 13-12 at the break but ran out of puff in the second half against a Blues side which showed limited options and had little disregard for the ball.
The visiting team was also hampered by injuries to players, with four leaving the field.
But it still came out on top, as it scored 12 points when the Highlanders had 14 men on the field in the first half and then managed to scramble well in defence.
It was the same old story from the Highlanders. Some good play was mixed with basic errors and the side wilted somewhat in the high pace of the game.
Best for the Highlanders were fullback Ben Smith, winger Buxton Popoali'i, lock Brad Thorn and flanker John Hardie.
The Highlanders made a great start and had 10 points on the board before the Blues had barely had a sniff of the ball.
Colin Slade opened the scoring with a penalty after just a minute.
Popoali'i then burst through a gap after eight minutes and when he was held up 5m from the line, Ben Smith picked up the ball and wriggled his way past two tacklers to score.
Slade added the extras and the Highlanders had made a fantastic beginning to the match.
The Blues finally found some territory after the quarter hour mark but Chris Noakes was astray with the penalty attempt.
They would get on the board five minutes later, after Ma'a Nonu was yellow carded following a messy shoulder charge on old mate Piri Weepu.
The Highlanders defence was stretched and the Blues found blindside flanker Steven Luatua out wide and he crossed in the corner untouched.
The visiting side was finding it tough with a man down and a period of sustained pressure from the Blues was rewarded with big prop Angus Ta'avao barging over by the posts to score.
Noakes added the extras and when Nonu came back on the field, he found his side behind.
He tried his best to get them back in front and Smith was over again just after the half an hour mark but it had come from the ball going forward by Hosea Gear.
The Highlanders were getting sloppy near the end of the first half but Slade slotted a penalty to give his side a one point lead at the halftime break.
Blues 29 (Piri Weepu 2, Steven Luatua, Angus Ta'avao tries, Chris Noakes 2 con, pen; Baden Kerr con) Highlanders 18 (Phil Burleigh, Ben Smith tries, Coloin Slade con, 2 pen). Halftime: 13-12 Highlanders
