Decimated by injuries, the Highlanders drew on all their inspiration to upset the Blues 22-11 in their Super 12 rugby match at Carisbrook.

The Highlanders, underdogs before the game, were stricken by the loss of five players through injury and it was a makeshift side who finished the game.

Both halfbacks, Danny Lee (neck) and Byron Kelleher (head), succumbed to heavy blows, fullback Paul Williams broke his right tibia, Josh Blackie limped off with a bruised hip and Brad Fleming did likewise with a recurrence of a thigh injury.

First five-eighth Tony Brown went into halfback for the first time since his early days at primary school and his sheer guts epitomised the Highlanders' effort.

So did that of Fleming who, when all the back reserves had been used, returned to play the last quarter.

Ahead 12-11 at halftime, the Highlanders stretched the lead to 15-11 with Willie Walker's fifth penalty goal 15 minutes into the second spell.

But, as their players dropped like flies, it seemed only a matter of time until the Blues -- who had won their previous five games with maximum points -- took control and won by a comfortable margin.

Miraculously, the Blues did not add to their score in the second spell and the Highlanders dug in and stood their ground.

The match-clinching try came eight minutes from fulltime after Simon Maling took clean lineout ball 10m out, the forwards drove towards the posts and hooker Anton Oliver crashed over for the try.

The Highlanders played this game on emotion because the Gordon Hunter Memorial Trophy, which they won in Auckland last year, was so special to them.

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