Super Rugby: Highlanders turn it on in second half to blow away the Hurricanes

Sport360 staff 00:32 02/06/2018
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  • Waisake Naholo cruises over to seal it for the Highlanders

    The Highlanders finished strongly to upset the Hurricanes 30-14 in Dunedin Friday and boost their chances of a play-off berth.

    The hosts scored four tries to two in a fixture that saw both teams evenly matched until mid-way through the second half.

    The result consolidates the Highlanders’ spot in the top eight, lifting them above the Chiefs, who face a tough assignment against defending champions the Crusaders on Saturday.

    It also extends their home winning streak to 12 and is the second straight loss for the Hurricanes, who until last week were challenging the Crusaders at the top of the table.

    Captain Brad Shields blamed a misfiring lineout and handling errors for the loss, saying his side needed to improve if they were to claim the title for the first time since 2016.

    “It’s frustrating because it’s been the same thing for the last couple of weeks. We’ve been our own worst enemy,” he said.

    “When you can’t string phases together or hold onto the ball it’s pretty hard to score points.”

    The match began at a frantic pace under the Forsyth Barr Stadium roof, with the Highlanders looking to get the ball wide but only a Lima Sopoaga penalty dividing the teams mid-way through the first half.

    Jordie Barrett put the Hurricanes ahead with the first try of the match in the 23rd minute after latching on to a pass from brother Beauden off the back of a strong scrum.

    The hosts were reduced to 14 men two minutes before half-time when Liam Squire received a yellow card for a dangerous tackle, but the setback only spurred the Highlanders on.

    They kept the ball alive through some desperate offloading for four minutes after the half-time siren, with half-back Aaron Smith in the thick of a spectacular passage of play before Tevita Li scored to make it 8-7.

    Smith crossed his own try to extend the Highlanders’ lead three minutes after the restart when fullback Ben Smith weaved through three defenders to set him up.

    The Hurricanes hit back when a quick throw-in from Nehe Milner-Skudder caught the Highlanders napping, allowing prop Jeff Toomaga-Allen to barge his way over for a converted try.

    Tyrel Lomax scored for the Highlanders as the home side dominated the final quarter, with Waisake Naholo also crossing the line and Sopoaga contributing another penalty, making it 30-14.

    Highlanders 30 (T Li, A Smith, T Lomax, W Naholo tries, L Sopoaga 2 cons, 2 pens) defeated Hurricanes 14  (J Barrett, J Toomaga-Allen tries; B Barrett 2 cons) in Dunedin. (HT: Highlanders 8-7) (Yellow card: L Squire)

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