Hurricanes underline title contentions in Blue

The Hurricanes underlined their Super 14 title credentials with a spectacular six try to four win over the Blues on Friday.

The result ensures the Hurricanes will stay at the top of the table with another two rounds remaining, but makes a semi-final berth a distant prospect for the Blues, who were fifth at the start of the weekend.

The Hurricanes blitzed their way to five first half tries and although the Blues had the better of the second spell, they could not make up the 35-13 half time deficit.

Despite the important win at the business end of the season, captain Rodney So'oialo expressed frustration the Hurricanes were not able to impose more control over the game.

"We scored the five points, but it was pretty unstructured and the boys were actually quite disappointed with the way that they went," he said.

"We sort of played into the Blues' hands."

The Blues again revealed the defensive weaknesses which undermine the attacking flair brilliantly demonstrated by winger Rene Ranger, who scored a try and repeatedly breached the Hurricane's defence.

Lock Ali Williams limped off in the 17th minute with an Achilles tendon injury, which was a worry for All Blacks coach Graham Henry ahead of Tests against France and Italy next month.

The breakneck first half saw the Hurricanes require only 22 minutes to secure their bonus point for four tries.

The Blues scored two of their own but were 22 points in arrears at the break, despite enjoying a dominance in both territory and possession which continued in the second spell.

The Blues opened the scoring in the third minute with a Jimmy Gopperth conversion but a dominant Hurricanes pack helped set up tries for Conrad Smith, Scott Waldrom, Ma'a Nonu and fullback Tamati Ellison, who touched down twice.

Winger Joe Rokocoko scored the Blues' first midway through the spell and outside centre Anthony Tuitavake kept them in the game by going over in the corner four minutes from half time.

Two minutes into the new spell, Ranger narrowed the gap to 15 points, scoring a try after inside centre Isaia Toeava broke through the defensive line just after the kickoff.

But the Hurricanes' most potent attacking weapon Ma'a Nonu restored the halftime margin to 22 points with a characteristic bulldozing try, which flyhalf Willie Ripia capped with his sixth straight conversion.

Blues
Tries -Joe Rokocoko, Anthony Tuitavake, Rene Ranger,Dean Budd
Penalties -Jimmy Gopperth
Conversions -Jimmy Gopperth 2
Drop Goals -

Teams

Sapa-AFP