The Highlanders have registered their first Super Rugby win over Queensland in four attempts, outclassing the Reds 20-13 at Dunedin’s Forsyth Barr Stadium.

The home side powered to victory on Friday on the back of a stunning second-half try from winger Waisake Naholo, which killed off any chance of a late Queensland surge.

Naholo stepped past a lead-footed Cameron Magnay before burying himself in the right corner in the 68th minute to hand his side a seven-point lead that proved insurmountable.

It made it a night to forget for Adam Thomson in his first match against his old club, while the result took the gloss off James O’Connor’s encouraging debut for the Reds at five-eighth.

A late withdrawal last week, O’Connor showed flashes of excitement in his 80 minutes and helped secure the Reds a bonus point with a late penalty from long range – his second of the night.

The Reds absorbed pressure in the opening stages and fell 3-0 behind but were ignited by O’Connor, who provided an early reminder of his ability when he swept past three Highlanders players on a daring 60m break.

Taking over the kicking duties from Lachie Turner, he added Queensland’s first points from a scrum penalty but handed the home side a reprieve when he dragged his next attempt – just as the Reds were beginning to assert control.

That bad miss allowed the Highlanders to steal back the momentum, with Marty Banks nailing consecutive penalties to open up a 9-3 gap and punish the Reds for their ill discipline.

The Reds narrowly escaped a further deficit four minutes from the break with a try-saving intervention from Will Genia, who grounded a grubber just in time to deny Naholo.

They continued to resist into the second half as the Highlanders went in search of a try, digging deep to repel a dangerous rolling maul in the corner.

Genia was involved with another near miss eight minutes in – this time in the attacking half, when barrelled over after a loose line-out throw but was brilliantly held up by All Blacks halfback Aaron Smith.

But there was no denying Jake Schatz as he broke away from the back of the scrum after a collision with Genia and confirmed the five points unopposed.

O’Connor added three more with the kick to make it 10-9 to Queensland, but it was a short-lived lead, as Banks slotted his fourth penalty for the night minutes later.

From there, the Highlanders had all the territory and possession – and they made it count in the 68th minute with Naholo’s outstanding finish.