New Zealand’s Wellington Hurricanes booked their place in the Super 14 semi-finals for the fifth time in seven seasons with a 37-28 win over Australia’s Queensland Reds yesterday.
The Hurricanes, who made the final in 2006 but have never won the competition, rebounded from last weekend’s loss to the Waikato Chiefs to hold off the Reds in a nine-try thriller at Lang Park in Brisbane.
The result ensured the Hurricanes joined the Chiefs and South Africa’s Bulls in the playoffs and left Australia without a team in the semi-finals.
PHOTO: REUTERS
The Hurricanes were always in control against a spirited Queensland team and never in any real danger of losing.
The visitors raced to a 17-0 lead inside the first 22 minutes, with bustling center Ma’a Nonu crossing twice and scrumhalf Piri Weepu once.
They wrapped up the bonus point before halftime when fullback Cory Jane crossed out wide, but had to settle for a 24-14 lead at the break after the Reds hit back with tries by center Quade Cooper and scrumhalf Ben Lucas.
The Hurricanes scored a fifth try when lock Jeremy Thrush scored just after the restart, but were unable to cross the line again and had to be content with two late penalties from flyhalf Willie Ripia.
The Reds cut the final margin to nine points with two second-half tries by fullback Mark McLinden and wing Brando Va’aulu, with all four touchdowns converted by flyhalf Berrick Barnes, but finished the season in 13th place.
■CRUSADERS 15, BLUES 13
REUTERS, WELLINGTON
Leon MacDonald potted a drop goal four minutes from time to steer Canterbury to a win over the Auckland Blues yesterday, keeping the Crusaders in contention for a place in the Super 14 semi-finals.
MacDonald held his nerve to put his team back in front after the Blues had threatened to steal the victory with a late contentious try from center Isaia Toeava.
The result lifted the Crusaders to 41 points and third place in the standings midway through the final round of the regular season.
The Crusaders could have wrapped up their place in the semis by scoring four tries to collect a bonus point, but were unable to score even one. MacDonald contributed all their points with four penalties and the drop goal.
The Crusaders led 6-3 at halftime, then 12-6 with 10 minutes to go after MacDonald and Jimmy Gopperth traded penalties, when the game suddenly came to life.
The Blues hit the front eight minutes from the end when Toeava was awarded a try by the video referee after plunging his way through a pile of bodies.
Gopperth converted to put the home team in front at Eden Park, before MacDonald’s late reply gave the Crusaders their seventh win from their last eight matches.
■FORCE 33, HIGHLANDERS 28
REUTERS, SYDNEY
Australia’s Western Force ended their disappointing Super 14 season on a high with a win over New Zealand’s Otago Highlanders in Perth yesterday.
The Force had the game virtually wrapped up after opening up a 23-0 lead by halftime, then held off the fast-finishing Highlanders in the second half to seal their sixth win of the season and finish mid-table.
Wing Scott Staniforth scored two tries, while center Ryan Cross and wing Haig Sare crossed once each and flyhalf Matt Giteau kicked three penalties and two conversions.
Wing Ben Smith scored twice for the Highlanders, while lock Tom Donnelly and scrumhalf Jimmy Cowan also notched up five-pointers for the visitors.
Flyhalf Daniel Bowden booted all four conversions as the Highlanders suffered their ninth defeat of the campaign to finish in the bottom half.
■WARATAHS 38, LIONS 33
REUTERS, CAPE TOWN
New South Wales Waratahs beat the Lions in a dramatic match on Friday.
The Lions, who conceded four tries in a one-sided first half, staged a fightback to lead 33-31 with four minutes to play.
Waratahs replacement Tom Carter then scored a last-gasp try to keep alive his team’s hopes of qualifying for the semi-finals.
The Lions, out of the running for the playoffs, are 10th.
The visitors made a flying start when fullback Lachlan Turner and lock Dean Mumm scored tries in the opening 10 minutes, flyhalf Daniel Halangahu kicking both conversions.
The Lions responded with a penalty and drop goal by flyhalf Andre Pretorius, who also converted scrumhalf Jano Vermaak’s 15th-minute try.
The Waratahs took control with touchdowns from captain Phil Waugh and wing Peter Playford, before the home team rallied with 20 unanswered points thanks to another try by Vermaak and one from man of the match Willem Alberts.
Pretorius also booted a second drop goal and a penalty to take his points tally to 18, before Carter grabbed his late try and Halangahu notched his fifth conversion to add to an earlier penalty.
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