Publications
Partners
Perth The Hurricanes have shown that they could be genuine contenders in Super Rugby in 2015 with an impressive 42-13 win over the Western Force in Perth on Friday night.
As it happened: Force v Hurricanes
Despite having not played a game at home yet, the Hurricanes made it three wins in as many outings by scoring the first four tries of the match in a commanding performance against the Force.
The Kiwis had previously beaten the Lions and Bulls in South Africa, and picked up a bonus point in the victory.
The Force suffered their biggest ever home loss and have just one win from three games, which came in the season opener against defending champions the Waratahs.
The Force might have opened the scoring through a penalty from the boot of Zack Holmes, but it was evident from the outset that the visitors had their measure and the home team spent almost the entire game under siege.
The Hurricanes were on track from the time Cory Jane was on the end of some slick ball movement to run in the first try in the 12th minute.
They overpowered the Force in most aspects of the game, and added a second try when Mark Abbott seized on some lax defence to lunge over next to the posts in the 26th minute.
The Hurricanes led 15-6 at half-time and the game was over as a contest when Victor Vito drove to the line for their third try in the 61st minute.
They added a fourth when Julian Savea simply ran over Force opponent Luke Morahan as he charged down the side line in the 63rd minute.
They were unlucky not to add two further tries, with Savea twice denied by marginal calls from the referees, but James Marshall added a fifth with the last play of the match.
Hurricanes skipper Dane Coles said it had been a tremendous start for his team, but that they needed to maintain their form.
"It has been pretty good, two wins in Africa and one in Australia on the way home," he said
"We have a lot of belief in our side, we have put ourselves in a good position, but we need to keep our feet on the ground."
Scorers:
Force: 13 - Try: Mitchell Scott; Penalties: Zack Holmes, Luke Burton; Conversion: Burton
Hurricanes: 42 - Tries: Cory Jane, Mark Abbott, Victor Vito, Julian Savea, James Marshall; Conversions: Beauden Barrett (2), Marshall (2); Penalties: Barrett (3)
Teams:
Force
15 Luke Burton, 14 Luke Morahan, 13 Kyle Godwin, 12 Solomoni Jnr Rasolea, 11 Marcel Brache, 10 Zack Holmes, 9 Alby Mathewson, 8 Ben McCalman, 7 Brynard Stander, 6 Angus Cottrell, 5 Steve Mafi, 4 Sam Wykes (c), 3 Tetera Faulkner, 2 Nathan Charles, 1 Pekahou Cowan
Substitutes: 16 Heath Tessmann, 17 Chris Heiberg, 18 Oliver Hoskins, 19 Rory Walton, 20 Kane Koteka, 21 Ian Prior, 22 Sias Ebersohn, 23 Mitchell Scott
Hurricanes
15 James Marshall, 14 Cory Jane, 13 Rey Lee-Lo, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Chris Smylie, 8 Victor Vito, 7 Brad Shields, 6 Ardie Savea, 5 James Broadhurst, 4 Blade Thomson, 3 Ben Franks, 2 Dane Coles (captain), 1 Reggie Goodes
Substitutes: 16 Brayden Mitchell, 17 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, 18 Chris Eves, 19 Mark Abbott, 20 Callum Gibbins, 21 TJ Perenara, 22 Matt Proctor, 23 Nehe Milner-Skudder
