A four-try comeback by the Wellington Hurricanes in the second half turned around a half-time deficit to ensure a 29-13 victory against the Otago Highlanders in Dunedin on Sunday.
The Hurricanes cemented their position near the top of the Super 14 table with their seventh win from nine games this season, although the five try to two win was not one of their more memorable performances.
Both sides suffered goalkicking blues, with the Hurricanes only able to land two goals from nine attempts and neither could maintain sustained pressure because of frequent errors.
The match was a stop-start affair, with the Hurricanes unable to stamp their authority until the second half when they hauled in the Highlanders 13-5 halftime lead, scoring four tries without reply from the home side.
”We were very disappointed with our performance today but we’re happy to take the points,” Hurricanes skipper Rodney So’oialo said afterwards.
Flyhalf Callum Bruce opened the scoring for the Highlanders in the 11th minute after a sustained period of pressure. Taking a quick tap penalty near the Hurricanes line, he caught the defence napping to squeeze over the line and touch down.
Former All Blacks skipper Tana Umaga hit back three minutes later in his first appearance for six weeks after suffering a knee injury. Umaga latched on to a clever inside pass from centre Ma’a Nonu to score his 44th try in the southern hemisphere competition.
The match failed to work up much momentum in the first spell, with mistakes by both sides marring play. A fumble by Hurricanes flyhalf Jimmy Gopperth saw Highlanders prop Carl Hayman pick up the loose ball and put fellow front rower Clarke Dermody into the clear.
Gopperth, who was replaced by David Holwell at halftime, and Highlanders fullback Ben Blair were both off target with the boot with only one successful penalty attempt by Blair to show for seven attempts at goal by both sides in the first spell.
Exciting young fullback Isaia Toeava scored the first Hurricanes try in the second half after So’oialo and flanker Jerry Collins spread the ball to the flanks. Toeava was also on hand to dot down right on fulltime after a desperate last gasp attack by the
Highlanders broke down in their own 22.
Lock Jason Eaton and winger Lome Fa’atau — who tops the tryscoring table this season with eight touchdowns — scored the other tries for the Hurricanes. – Sapa-AFP