An inspired performance from Highlanders winger Caleb Tangitau has powered them to a 39-19 win over Moana Pasifika.

Tanigtau crossed for a double in a crazy game that included a power outage that lost the broadcast for the final quarter.

The winger crossed in the seventh minute after burning his defender for the opener, setting the tone for a dominant first half.

Some sloppy hands cost him a second, but it wasn’t long before the winger made up for it in the corner.

His wing partner Jona Nareki got in on the action shortly afterwards as Jack Taylor gave them a 27-0 lead at the break.

Scrumhalf Nic Shearer got his debut Super Rugby try before Niko Jones got the hosts on the board just after half-time.

However, life didn’t get much easier for Moana, down to 13 after back-to-back yellow cards.

William Havili and Glen Vaihu both found themselves drawing the ire of the referee, sent off within a five minute span.

Flanker Veveni Lusaka took instant advantage as the flanker eased his way over the line.

Incredibly, the hosts struck down to 13 as Millennium Sanerivi finished off a great move that started with quick hands from Patrick Pellegrini.

Allan Craig shortly crossed to reduce the margin, but this is where the game descended into chaos.

Power went out on the broadcast at the 60 minute mark, with the remainder of the game seen at the ground or on Moana Pasifika’s Instagram.

Play resumed shortly afterwards with one of the light towers off as the hosts tried to will their way back into the contest with little success.

Debutant Paula Latu added plenty off the bench as the Tongan international won several penalties. 

But the Highlanders held their calm and their nerve for a crucial win, leaping into the top six briefly.

Highlanders 39 (Tries: Tanigtau 2, Nareki, Taylor, Lasaqa, Shearer; Cons: Pasitoa 3; Pens: Pasiota) def Moana Pasifika 19 (Tries: Jones, Saniveri, Craig; Cons: Garden-Bachop 2)

Teams

Moana Pasifika: 15 William Havili, 14 Solomon Alaimalo, 13 Tevita Latu, 12 Lalomilo Lalomilo, 11 Glen Vaihu, 10 Jackson Garden-Bachop, 9 Joel Lam, 8 Dominic Ropeti, 7 Niko Jones, 6 Miracle Faiilagi (captain), 5 Allan Craig, 4 Veikoso Poloniati, 3 Feleti Sae Ta’ufo’ou, 2 Millennium Sanerivi, 1 Abraham Pole
Replacements: 16 Samiuela Moli, 17 Malakai Hala-Ngatai, 18 Paula Latu, 19 Alefosio Aho, 20 Ola Tauelangi, 21 Siaosi Nginingini, 22 Patrick Pellegrini, 23 Tevita Ofa

Highlanders: 15. Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, 14 Caleb Tangitau, 13 Jonah Lowe, 12 Tanielu Tele’a, 11 Jona Nareki, 10 Reesjan Pasitoa, 9 Nic Shearer, 8 Hugh Renton (co-captain), 7 Veveni Lasaqa, 6 Te Kamaka Howden, 5 Tomas Lavanini, 4 Oliver Haig, 3 Angus Ta’avao, 2 Jack Taylor, 1 Ethan de Groot
Replacements: 16 Henry Bell, 17 Daniel Lienert-Brown, 18 Rohan Wingham, 19 Will Stodart, 20 Sean Withy, 21 Adam Lennox, 22 Andrew Knewstubb, 23 Timoci Tavatavanawai (co-captain)

Referee: Damon Murphy
Assistant referees: Jordan Way, Jeremy Markey
TMO: Brett Cronan