Hurricanes hold off the Reds
The Hurricanes made up for their poor opening start to the Super 14 with a hard-fought 23-18 win over the Reds at Westpac Stadium in Wellington on Friday.
The Hurricanes made up for their poor opening start to the Super 14 with a hard-fought 23-18 win over the Reds at Westpac Stadium in Wellington on Friday.
The home side were back to their counter-attacking best and ran in two tries after going into the half-time sheds three points adrift.
The Reds had the advantage at the break, but certainly didn't have the advantage with the flow of the game.
However, a try by skipper John Roe two minutes from full-time set up a nail-biting finale, but the Hurricanes held on to win the game and bag their first points of the competition.
Although the Reds didn't deserve to win it, Roe's men will certainly feel that they are quickly becoming a different kettle of fish under their new coach.
Having never won in Wellington, the Reds looked on course to change history after piling on an early ten-point lead through the boot of Clinton “one eyed” Schifcofske and a Van Humphries try.
The score flattered the visitors as it was the Hurricanes that dominated territory and possession for the opening quarter.
But the Reds took their chances well and the first points were on the board thanks to a Schifcofske penalty after Rodney So'oialo was blown up at a ruck.
Before the Hurricanes had any time to get back into the swing of things, Roe made a telling burst from quick re-cycled ball down the left-hand touchline.
Still ten metres out, half-back Sam Cordingley popped the ball up to a charging Humphries who bullied his way past four Hurricanes defenders for the opening try of the match.
It all seemed to easy for the Reds as Schifcofske added a tricky conversion to keep the scoreboard ticking over. 10-0 to the visitors.
When the lingering smoke finally cleared from an out of control fire from the game's opening fireworks display, the Hurricanes could finally see the try-line and wasted little time crossing it.
A clever cross-kick from Jimmy Gopperth landed favourably into the hands of Hosea Gear, who did superbly well to keep the ball in play and get past the challenging Digby Ioane in mid-air.
The Hurricanes winger set off down the right-hand flank with the try-line in sight, Tane Tu'ipulotu in support and Chris Latham in front of him.
Bizarrely, Gear took Latham on and nearly fluffed it as the Reds full-back made an almost perfect try-saving tackle. But Gear finally managed to offload to Tu'ipulotu who had an easy stroll in for the Hurricanes first try of their Super 14 campaign.
With perfect conditions for kicking, Gopperth added the extras and the Hurricanes fans finally had something to cheer about.
But the cheers soon turned to jeers as Nonu was made to pay for a deliberate shoulder charge on Cordingley, who you may be able to catch at next week's Oscar ceremony in the category for “Best dive from a rugby player.”
Schifcofske fired over the ensuing penalty and the Reds extended their lead further with ten minutes of the half still remaining.
The lead was cut back down to size soon afterwards by another Gopperth goal which took the scores to 10-13 in favour of the Reds at half-time.
The 'Canes came out firing once again in the second half, with passes going through the hands, legs, and every other body parts possible to get the ball out wide.
Full of running, the Hurricanes chances – that were so brilliantly created from multiple line breaks from bustling winger Ma'a Nonu – always resulted in nothing.
The home team just lacked the finishing touches that would ultimately have taken the score way beyond the Reds' reach had the final pass gone to hand.
Still three points behind, a missed Gopperth penalty failed to level the scores. However, the Hurricanes pivot was on hand to make up for his earlier blunder with a better effort in the 56th minute.
Four minutes later, a moment of counter-attacking brilliance from the Hurricanes saw Nonu finally make his way over for a deserved try all thanks to a Reds fumble inside the home side's 22.
Piri Weepu started the move after collecting the loose ball and accelerated into a gap before unleashing Chris Masoe into open space. The flanker then passed to Gopperth, who cut in and then out before passing inside to Nonu to finish things off.
The conversion was followed up with a crucial penalty kick by Gopperth that took the number ten's personal Super Rugby points tally past 300 points.
With Gopperth's penalty and the scores now reading 23-13, it meant the Reds had to score twice.
It seemed the Reds were up for the challenge when Roe powered over through more sloppy Hurricanes defence as a yellow sea opened up from a line-out five metres out from the home team's try-line.
Schifcofske's conversion hit the uprights, but the Reds were still in with a chance. But time wasn't on their side as the clock ticked down to signal a well-earned win for the Hurricanes, who will no doubt be a tad relieved.
Man of the match: For the Reds, John Roe was again an inspirational leader and performer from the front. His try two minutes from time gave his side a vital losing bonus point. Chris Latham was also his usual hard-working self, whose kicking was top drawer. As for the Hurricanes, credit must go to their midfield who kept the Reds centre pairing quiet for the entire match. Prop Neemia Tialata made a successful return to the side with powerful work in the tight exchanges as well as in the loose. But in the end, we have chosen that man Ma'a Nonu. Always a mixed bag from the dreadlocked Kiwi, and it was no exception this time round. But his telling breaks that so nearly set up several tries and a touchdown of his own wins our vote.
Moment of the match: Nonu's try. Pure class and a sign of what this Hurricanes side can do when passes stick.
Villain of the match: No yellow cards, no punch-ups! This was a rugby match we were watching right?
The scorers:
For Hurricanes:
Tries: Tu'ipulotu, Nonu
Cons: Gopperth 2
Pens: Gopperth 3
For Reds:
Try: Humphries
Con: Schifcofske
Pens: Schifcofske 2
Hurricanes: 15 Cory Jane, 14 Hosea Gear, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Tane Tu'ipulotu, 11 Ma'a Nonu, 10 Jimmy Gopperth, 9 Piri Weepu, 8 Rodney So'oialo, 7 Chris Masoe, 6 Jerry Collins, 5 Jason Eaton, 4 Craig Clarke, 3 Neemia Tialata, 2 Andrew Hore, 1 John Schwalger.
Replacements: 16 Hikawera Elliot, 17 Tim Fairbrother, 18 Jeremy Thrush, 19 Thomas Waldrom, 20 Alby Mathewson, 21 Willie Ripia, 22 Shannon Paku.
Reds: 15 Chris Latham, 14 Digby Loane, 13 Morgan Turinui, 12 Chris Siale, 11 Clinton Schifcofske, 10 Berrick Barnes, 9 Sam Cordingley, 8 John Roe (c), 7 David Croft, 6 Hugh McMeniman, 5 James Horwill, 4 Van Humphries, 3 Rodney Blake, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Greg Holmes.
Replacements: 16 Sean Hardman, 17 Dayna Edwards, 18 Ed O'Donoghue, 19 Leroy Houston, 20 Will Genia, 21 Andrew Walker, 22 Peter Hynes.