The Highlanders gave coach Jamie Joseph something to smile about with a 39-31 Super Rugby Pacific win over Western Force in a 10-try thriller in Dunedin.
Winger Caleb Tangitau and centre Jonah Lowe both crossed twice for the home side, who trailed 21-17 at halftime and had to play the last 10 minutes with 14 players, after using up their substitutes bench through injury.
The win will provide some comfort for Joseph, who missed out on the vacant All Blacks head coaching role to Dave Rennie, after the race came down to two men.
After opening the season with victory over the Crusaders, the southerners had racked up losses to the Chiefs and Reds.
The Highlanders led 17-7 after 35 minutes, thanks to tries to flanker Veveni Lasaqa and Lowe, but the Force crossed twice in quick succession before the break.
Lowe put them back in front, after a storming Timoci Tavatavanawai run, before Tangitau crossed twice, with his double bisected by a try to Force winger and former All Black George Bridge.
The result ends the Highlanders' forgettable run of six straight losses to Australian opponents.
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