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Kirkpatrick gives 'Canes the Blues

Sat, 23 Jan 2010 10:44

Reason to celebrate: Blues fans enjoy an early win

Hurricanes discard Daniel Kirkpatrick overcame poor weather conditions to help set up a 19-17 win for the Blues over the 'Canes in their Super 14 pre-season outing in Mangatainoka on Saturday.

Kirkpatrick, who joined the Blues after being picked up in the draft from the Hurricanes, kicked two vital conversions in a game in which both teams scored three tries.

The 21-years-old showed why he was so highly rated as an age-group player - which has seen the flyhalf win an International Rugby Board Under-20 World Cup title and being named Player of the Tournament, as well as winning the Ranfurly Shield with Wellington in 2008. He also won the Under-19 World Cup and debuted for the Lions as an 18-year-old in 2007.

The game was marred as a spectacle by rain and cold conditions, but the two conversions to the former Wellington No.10, Kirkpatrick, proved the difference after the score was locked 5-5 at half-time.

The match was an 8000-seat sellout on a farm in the small Wairarapa community, which is made famous by the presence of popular beer brewery.

The players struggled to respond in kind because of the conditions although the game opened up in the dying stages when the sun poked through.

On the field the players did their utmost to produce a spectacle in slippery conditions and to their credit produced six tries in an evenly matched contest.

Prop Anthony Perenise, scrumhalf Chris Eaton and inside centre  Charlie Ngatai scored the Hurricanes tries, with flyhalf Willie Ripia adding a conversion.

Centre Rene Ranger (2) and scrumhalf Taniela Moa scored for the Blues - with Kirkpatrick adding the two conversions.

On the field there were plenty of positives for Hurricanes coach Colin Cooper to ponder ahead of the remaining two pre-season matches.

After withstanding an early Blues assault on their tryline, the Hurricanes scored first when Perenise, who had a strong match, barged over from a well-worked lineout drive.

The set piece was a strong point for the Hurricanes with Canterbury recruits, blindside flank Michael Patterson and lock James Broadhurst, proving easy targets for hooker Ged Robinson.

No.8 Victor Vito was getting through plenty of work taking the ball up in the wet conditions and had good support from openside flank Scott Waldrom in his comeback match from a serious back injury.

The Blues evened the ledger when Ranger scored with his first touch of the ball in the second quarter to tie the match at 5-all at half-time.

The Hurricanes responded immediately after the break when Jason Eaton sold a dummy and burrowed over close to the posts.

Ripia converted for a 12-5 lead, which lasted till the final play of the quarter - when Ranger skipped through the defence to tie the match heading into the final stanza.

The Blues rolled on a massive number of fresh reserves as the rain stopped and the match opened up for an entertaining finish.

Hurricanes wing Hosea Gear was in superb form, breaking the Blues line several times and providing a strong surge to put young wider training group member Charlie Ngatai in space out wide.

Ngatai looked to be covered, but showed huge strength and pace to stay in and score in the corner to the crowd's delight.

The Hurricanes held their 17-12 lead till late in the match when Moa emulated Eaton's earlier effort to score from a ruck after yet another break from Ranger.

Kirkpatrick showed his former teammates no favours to knock over the deciding goal.

Though it was difficult to shine in the slippery conditions, Gear, Waldrom, and Ngatai can all be pleased with their efforts.

The Hurricanes escaped with no serious injuries, plenty of fans for the season and a solid foundation for their next pre-season match, against the Brumbies in Porirua on Friday.

The Blues host the Chiefs in Albany next Friday, January 29.

Scorers:

For the Hurricanes:
Tries: Perenise, Eaton, Ngatai
Con: Ripia

For the Blues:
Tries: Ranger 2, Moa
Cons: Kirkpatrick 2

Teams:

Hurricanes: 15 Andre Taylor, 14 Alapati Leiua, 13 Jason Kawau, 12 Johnny Leota, 11 Hosea Gear, 10 Willie Ripia, 9 Piri Weepu, 8 Victor Vito, 7 Scott Waldrom, 6 Michael Paterson, 5 James Broadhurst, 4 Api Naikatini, 3 Anthony Perenise, 2 John Schwalger, 1 Ged Robinson.
Replacements - from: Tyson Keats, David Smith, Charlie Ngatai, Nick Crosswell, Daniel Ramsay, Jacob Ellison, Chris Eaton, Michael Bent.

Blues: 15 Paul Williams, 14 Joe Rokocoko, 13 George Pisi, 12 Benson Stanley, 11 Rudi Wulf, 10 Stephen Brett, 9 Alby Mathewson, 8 Viliame Ma'afu, 7 Serge Lilo, 6 Peter Saili, 5 Andrew Van der Heijden, 4 Filo Paulo, 3 Charlie Faumuina, 2 Tom McCartney, 1 Tevita Mailau.
Replacements - from: Ash Dixon, Michael Reid, Anthony Boric, Tom Chamberlain, Chris Smylie, Daniel Kirkpatrick, Rene Ranger, Pauliasi Manu, Liaki Moli, Onosa'i Auva'a, Jerome Kaino, Michael Harris, Lachie Munro.

Referee: Garratt Williamson

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