The Wellington Hurricanes took a lucky but vital bonus point from a 29-12 win over the Queensland Reds in a Super 12 rugby match at Wellington Stadium on Saturday.
The Hurricanes, who led 19-0 at half-time, were taxed by a strong second-half revival before number eight Jerry Collins sealed a bonus point with their fourth try two minutes from full-time.
Tries to wing Roy Kinikinilau, hooker Andrew Hore and fullback Brent Ward gave the Hurricanes a half-time lead on which they should have capitalised.
But the Super 12’s most enigmatic team lost their momentum in the second half and Queensland rallied with tries to centre Junior Palesasa and number eight John Roe.
”At half-time we talked extensively about keeping the effort up in the second half,” said Hurricanes captain Tana Umaga.
”We really wanted to come out firing, to keep the momentum on and put the heat on them but it just didn’t happen. I don’t know why.
”The bonus point was something that was always in the back of my mind. It was something we needed badly but for a long time it didn’t look like it was going to come.”
Umaga’s return from injury helped rally the Hurricanes. The All Black centre’s sturdy defensive performance and subtle attacking contribution bolstered Wellington throughout the first half.
His leadership was exemplary but even Umaga couldn’t keep the Hurricanes on task when their concentration ebbed after half-time.
The match was riddled with errors and was unbecoming of two of the stronger attacking teams in the Super 12. Poor passing and handling errors plagued both teams and a lack of discipline or tactical direction robbed the game of structure or fluency.
South African referee Andrew Turner whistled 29 penalties in a performance that mystified both teams but, particularly, seemed to put the struggling Reds off stride.
The Hurricanes played the last 10 minutes of the match, achieving Collins’s try, with only 14 men after replacement prop Neemia Tialata was sent off for a high tackle.
After a scrappy start, Kinikinilau scored the Hurricanes’ first try — his third of the season — in the 15th minute, running off a pass from All Black Ma’a Nonu.
Hore plunged over a goalline ruck to score in the 20th minute and Ward scored two minutes from half-time after wing Hosea Gear had made an unsupported break down the left touch.
Palesasa put Queensland back in the match with an intercept try in the ninth minute of the second half and Roe surged through Umaga’s tackle to score in the 64th minute.
Queensland was back in the game at 22-12 but couldn’t produce another try and surrendered the possibility of a bonus point when they turned down late scoring opportunities from penalties. — Sapa-AP