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Hurricanes steal it at the death

Sat, 01 May 2010 11:33

Blowing a fuse?: Hurricanes centre Ma'a Nonu - Pic: Doug Fitz-Gerald

The Hurricanes kept their hopes of a semifinal spot alive with their 33-27 victory at cold Westpac Stadium in Wellington, scoring a bonus-point try after the final siren.

Neemia Tialata bashed his way over for the try, his third in 85 Super rugby matches. After the match Hurricanes' captain, Andrew Hore, said: ""It was maybe the most important try of his life."

The Chiefs came away with two bonus points after scoring four tries in the first half but must rue the absence of a kicker when, one point behind and two minutes to play, they missed an easy penalty at goal in an exciting, lively match.

It was not just goal-kicking that killed the Chiefs. They were leading 27-21 with five minutes to play when they won a disastrous Hurricanes' throw to a line-out. Disastrous? For themselves, that is. Richard Kahui chipped and the next thing Hosea Gear was racing away down the left from not far outside of his own 22. He curled infield and played to Ma'a Nonu and the burly centre thundered on, easily beating Tim Nanai-Williams to score the try which won the match. Tialata's try was to follow, an important cherry on the top.

By half-time the Hurricanes looked to be blown away as the Chiefs led 24-15. At one stage they led 24-8, scoring four tries in 28 minutes. The second half was a  different matter. They got little ball and did not hang onto the little they got. They were also much penalised - 16-7 overall and a yellow card to boot.

The Chiefs, much weakened by injury, deserve lots of credit as they followed their leader, Liam Messam, in determined effort.

The first penalty in the match was against Sona Taumalolo at a tackle. Aaron Cruden goaled. 3-0 after 5 minutes. The lead lasted a minute.

The Hurricanes won the ball at the kick-off but Cruden dropped a straightforward pass from Tyson Keats and Jackson Willison swooped on the ball and raced 30 metres to the posts to score. Callum Bruce converted. 7-3 after 6 minutes.

Nonu broke inside Bruce and Karl Lowe, and Hosea Gear carried it on, running straight at the line. Quick ball went to Cory Jane who was over for the try in Willison's tackle. 8-7 to the Hurricanes after 14 minutes.

The Chiefs then went on pick-'n-drive, making effective metres. Bruce broke to bring them closer and Taumalolo bashed powerfully through three would-be tacklers to score. 12-8 after 19 minutes.

After a turnover off Jane, the Chiefs went through phases till Tim Nani-Williams beat three defenders, stepped Jane and scored. The easy conversion hit the upright and stayed out. 17-8 after 24 minutes.

Rodney So'oialo, playing his 99th Super rugby match, passed against the wheel of a scrum in the direction of cocky Keats but Messam intercepted and ran 35 metres through empty acres to score in the left corner. Bruce, surprisingly, converted. 24-8 after 28 minutes. In the next 52 minutes of the match the Chiefs managed only three points as their season, so promising at the start,  wobbled to an end.

For all the pressure eon them by the fast Chiefs defence, the Hurricanes kept running. Keats tapped two penalties in quick succession and suddenly Nonu burst through three to score a try which Cruden converted. 24-15 after 36 minutes, and they nearly got another try as Keats tapped again and the Hurricanes forced a five-metre scrum. From the scrum, they bashed again with So'oialo and Tialata close but Cruden dropped the ball and the Chiefs broke out.

Again in the second half the Hurricanes looked for a try from a penalty till Taumalolo was penalised at a scrum and Cruden goaled. 24-18 after 43 minutes./

Such are the Chiefs' kicking woes that they gave a long kick to Colin Bourke, who also missed.

The Hurricanes attacked but the Chiefs got the ball and ran from their own line. A try was distinct possibility till Nonu intercepted in his own 22.

Tamati Ellison was penalised at a tackle and this time Bruce goaled. 27-19

At this stage Piri Weepu took over from Keats and also took over the kicking from Cruden. He missed an easy penalty but when Luke Braid was penalised and sin-binned, Weepu got it over. 27-21 with 20 minutes to play - 20 lively minutes, dominated by the Hurricanes.

They were close when Gear broke out and kicked ahead but Nani-Williams saved. The Hurricanes mauled to the line but Willison intercepted to set the Chiefs attacking with Nani-Williams and Brendon Leonard prominent. But Kevin O'Neill was penalised at a tackle and the Hurricanes tapped and tried attacking from within their 22.

The Chiefs did pick-'n-go and it was promising till Michael Paterson won a turnover.

Then Hurricane enthusiasm broke Chiefs' hearts when Kahui chipped and Nonu scored. 28-27 with five minutes to play.

Hearts continued shattering when with 2 minutes to play Bruce missed an easy penalty when Nick Crosswell was penalised at a tackle.

Disheartening as this was for the Chiefs it was heartening for the Hurricanes and they came racing back through Gear. They wanted the fourth try. They bashed at the line, the siren went and then Tialata scored "the best try of his life" as he bashed through Ben Afeaki.

Man of the Match: Hosea Gear, the man who sparked the victory

Yellow card: Luke Braid (Chiefs) - repeated team infringement at a tackle

Scorers:

For Hurricanes:
Tries: Jane, Nonu 2, Tialata
Cons: Cruden, Weepu
Pens:  Cruden 2, Weepu

For Chiefs:
Tries: Willison, Taumalolo, Nani-Williams, Messam
Cons: Bruce 2
Pens: Bruce

Teams:

Hurricanes: 15 Cory Jane, 14 Tamati Ellison, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 Hosea Gear, 10 Aaron Cruden, 9 Tyson Keats, 8 Rodney So'oialo, 7 Karl Lowe, 6 Victor Vito, 5 Michael Paterson, 4 Bryn Evans, 3 Neemia Tialata, 2 Andrew Hore (captain), 1 John Schwalger.
Replacements: 16 Dane Coles, 17 Jacob Ellison, 18 Jeremy Thrush, 19 Nick Crosswell, 20 Piri Weepu, 21 Willie Ripia, 22 Jason Kawau.

Chiefs: 15 Tim Nanai-Williams, 14  Dwayne Sweeney, 13 Richard Kahui, 12 Jackson Willison, 11 Jason Hona, 10 Callum Bruce, 9 Junior Poluleuligaga, 8 Colin Bourke, 7 Tanerau Latimer, 6 Liam Messam (captain), 5 Culum Retallick, 4 Craig Clarke, 3 Nathan White, 2 Hika Elliot, 1 Sona Taumalolo.
Replacements: 16 Aled de Malmanche/Vern Kamo, 17 Ben Afeaki, 18 Kevin O’Neill, 19 Luke Braid, 20 Brendon Leonard, 21 Trent Renata, 22 Phil Burleigh

Referee: Keith Brown (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Vinny Munro (New Zealand), Garratt Williamson (New Zealand)
TMO: Mike Fraser (New Zealand)

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