The Wellington Hurricanes fanned their weak hopes of a home semifinal in the Super 14 when they beat the Queensland Reds 26-22 on Friday in the opening match of the 13th round.
The Reds scored three tries to two and were the better team, but lost for the ninth time this season. The Hurricanes’ ninth win elevated them to the top of the table ahead of the weekend’s six remaining games.
Most aspects of the Hurricanes’ play were permeated with errors and disorganisation, but the home side crept home with tries to All Blacks Tana Umaga and Jason Eaton, and 16 points to their goal kickers, David Holwell and Jimmy Gopperth.
”We prepared pretty well this week because we knew it was going to be a tough match,” said Hurricanes captain Rodney So’oialo. ”In the end we did what we set out to do. We had to work hard but we came away with four points.”
The Reds played strongly, uniting in the forwards to press the Hurricanes into their own half and mounting repeated and dangerous raids through the backs. Winger Drew Mitchell, fullback Chris Latham and stand-in flyhalf Berrick Barnes played well.
Barnes scored 12 points from a try, two conversions and a penalty, while David Croft and John Roe also scored tries. — Sapa-AP