Being an Otago and Highlanders supporter I’ve experienced quite a bit of hanging in there and more than a few major disappointnents.

So that makes good wins even better.

And the Highlanders winning the Super 15 final on Saturday is one of the best wins I’ve experienced, if not the best. This takes into account many All Black wins.

The All Black win in the World Cup final in 2011 was more relief than elation. The win in the nineties clinching the first series win in South Africa was pretty good. And there have been some other great wins at National level too.

But the closer to home team is special. Especially when they have no often been a dominant team. Big wins are to be savoured. And Saturday’s win was a very big win.

The Otago team through the nineties was exciting and had some very good wins, especially those I watched live at Carisbrook.

Winning the Ranfurly Shield in 2013 was special, but I don’t remember if i even watched that game. But it was a one off win and the loss soon afterwards made the Shield experience short lived.

However this Highlanders’ win means more. It is an international competition with the best players and teams of New Zealand, Australia and South Africa involved. The Super 15 competition is regarded by some as the toughest in the world.

The win on Saturday night was fantastic in itself, but more so because it followed two excellent games against the previous two champions, the Chiefs and the Waratahs, and it was the peak of a successful season.

The start of the season didn’t give any indication of what might play out. The Highlanders began in February with a bye, and then they lost at home to the Crusaders.

They then beat the Queensland Reds, followed by the first sign of real promise, a win against the 2013 champions the highly rated Chiefs.

Even then hopes weren’t highly raised. Aspects of the Highlanders’ play looked same old ominous, especially a struggling scrum.

But as the season ground on hopes were cautiously raised. They were at least competitive, most of the time. They were often playing well, and at times looked exciting.

Into the last third of the season there was reasonable hope the Highlanders might at least make the play offs, which would have made the season a success.

But towards the end of the rounds the smart heads and the big hearts of the players and coaches became more apparent. This team wasn’t just sort of competitive, it could foot it with the best.

Getting the second most points on the table was a significant achievement.

Otago and Highlander supporters had had many major disappointments so expectations are usually lower than hopes in big games. Some degree of trepidation is never absent.

Then the play off game against the Chiefs. A very satisfying win on merit.

The following week was better when the Highlanders comprehensively out thought and out fought last year’s champion the Waratahs, on their home turf in Sydney.

The pinnacle now looked possible with the final starting at 0-0, although the Hurricanes were clear and deserved favourites.

A plus was the Highlanders had little to lose apart from a game, as coming second would have been a great achievement. A close loss after a brave attempt would have been fairly happily accepted in the south.

But this Highlanders team was not playing for second. They were determined to prove to them selves, to their supporters and to the rugby world that they the tricks and the ticker to top the Super fifteen competition.

And so they did. It wasn’t easy, and it wasn’t over until the final whistle – with the way the Hurricanes play the hard fought and desperately retained lead always looked at risk.

The Highlanders looked wobbly mid way through the second half. It looked like season fatigue could be catching up on them.

But they had the heart and the reserves of energy to put in one last massive effort, and the finished the stronger of the two teams.

So they were very well deserved winners.

And for me this is right up there, it’s one of the most satisfying wins I have experienced.

Thanks to all of those involved in the Highlanders. Thanks very much. This is a season and a finals win to remember.