March 23 (Reuters) – Flyhalf Beauden Barrett set up a
last-minute try and coolly slotted a conversion kick after the
whistle to help the Wellington Hurricanes snatch a 26-25 victory
from the Auckland Blues at Eden Park on Friday.
Barrett broke through the Blues’ line at midfield and
brilliantly evaded a host of lunging defenders before offloading
to captain Conrad Smith, who charged 30 metres to cut the
deficit to a point with his second try.
Barrett then kicked truly from a slight angle to hand the
Hurricanes their third win of the Super Rugby season after they
appeared destined to slump to an ill-disciplined loss.
“They did really well out to shut us out and nine times out
of 10 they would have ended it,” Smith said in a post-match
interview. “We’ve got weaknesses, we’re the first to admit it
(but) we’re patient and we wait for opportunities.”
The Blues had taken a 25-19 lead in the 58th minute after
kicking three straight penalties after the break, and kept the
Hurricanes scoreless for over 20 minutes before finally
succumbing to the visitors’ pressure.
The Hurricanes held a 19-16 lead at halftime after three
first-half tries but it was discard Ma’a Nonu who scored the
first try against his former team.
The All Black inside centre barged over the line next to the
right post from three metres out in the 14th minute after
flyhalf Piri Weepu drove the ball forward to the line.
Lachie Munro’s conversion put the Blues 10-0 up, but the
Hurricanes hit back within seconds of the re-start, as fullback
Andre Taylor touched down on the right after evading four
defenders on a breathtaking angled run from the halfway line.
Winger Cory Jane scored the Hurricanes’ second try in the
33rd minute after a terrible mistake by fullback Munro in the
Blues’ 22-yard line.
Continued…
