The scrappy phase continues with Hickey clearing down field to Smith who runs back at the Blues from deep.
Broken play everywhere and the Highlanders are desperate to find a gap but simply can't. They may have run out of ideas now.
Blues earn a penalty but Hickey shades it just wide.
Just under 15 minutes to play now. Is it time for the Blues to start thinking about that bonus point try?
Back to scrumtown now and the Highlanders will have the feed near halfway.
Highlanders progress up over halfway but still can't quite make the necessary break.
The Blues defence look inspired as they pick up another penalty. Hickey boots for the corner, they're going for it.
The Blues lose it from the lineout and the Highlanders try to run it out from deep.
This game is just drifting away from the Highlanders. The clock continues to roll as the scrums take over. Another reset here now.
Great pressure from the Blues and Braid turns it over.
Blues have a penalty on the 22. What's the call?
Hickey's going to stick it into the corner.
Great chance for that bonus point now. Ta'avao brings it down at the back.
But Buckman got in and stole it. Ben Smith kicks it out from the in goal.
It goes down to Benji Marshall who dances across field but ends up losing ground.
Blues still have the ball. Not anymore. Highlanders will have a scrum with five minutes to go.
Highlanders haven't really looked like scoring all night. Here they are 30m out though trying to get one with three minutes left.
It may have been a knock-on but we are checking upstairs. It also might have been a super try from Richard Buckman.
Not looking good. Knock-on called in the build up.
It would have been a super try from Buckman, who got to the Highlanders' kick in goal first and touched it down before smashing into the camera. But it wasn't.
Just over two minutes to play now and the Blues have a scrum 10m out from their line.
by Super Rugby via twitter 3/29/2014 8:07:55 AM