That dreadful winless run, which stretched back to round 1 of 2016 against the same Highlanders outfit on the same ground, was finally snapped on Friday night at Eden Park as Leon MacDonald's Blues – at long last – held their nerve to secure a 33-26 victory over the Highlanders. It's been a long, long time between drinks, but that amber liquid sure tasted sweet in the home changing-rooms as the celebrations unfurled into the night.