Publications
Partners
Wellington - The Hurricanes forced their way into the Super 14 top four when a 31-point spree in the second half cemented a bonus-point 44-21 win over the Reds on Friday.
It was the second week in a row the Hurricanes have overturned a halftime deficit as they continued a remarkable end of season run and put a serious dent in the Reds hopes of making the play-offs.
Hosea Gear touched down three times as the Hurricanes scored six tries, all by the outside backs, to three for the Reds.
The Reds, the surprise package of the championship, started the penultimate round before the play-offs in fourth place and led 21-13 at halftime against the Hurricanes before a reckless tackle cost them dearly.
Flanker Andrew Shaw was sinbinned for hurling Piri Weepu into the turf, and the 'Canes cashed in on the one-man advantage with two converted tries before the Reds were fully staffed again and by then the impetus was firmly with the home side.
"That was huge. We played in the right areas when they had a man down and played in their half for that whole time and got some good tries," said captain Andrew Hore.
"What the crowd and the Hurricanes have been waiting for all year is a performance like that in the second half."
In a match marking veteran backrower Rodney So'oialo's 100th Super appearance and the farewell home game for retiring coach Colin Cooper who has been in charge for more than 100 games, the Hurricanes struck early.
Hosea Gear and Cory Jane combined down the left flank with Jane scoring in the corner and Weepu followed up with a penalty.
The Reds replied with Quade Cooper and Will Genia exploiting holes around the Hurricanes ruck and with clever use of the inside pass they were rewarded with three tries.
Scott Higgenbotham scored the first from a Genia break around the maul and speedster Rod Davies ran 40 metres for the second when he came in from the blind side and latched on to an inside pass from Cooper.
Cooper engineered the third try when he made the initial break and chipped over the line with Will Chambers winning the race for the ball.
Gear and Jane closed the half with another break down the left side which ended with Gear scoring the first of his triple.
Gear and right wing Tamati Ellison scored while Shaw was side-lined and as the Hurricanes stepped up the pressure, Gear and replacement wing David Smith scored further tries.
Weepu finished the game with a personal tally of 14 points from four conversions and two penalties.
Teams
Hurricanes:
15. Cory Jane, 14. Tamati Ellison, 13. Conrad Smith, 12. Ma'a Nonu, 11. Hosea Gear, 10. Aaron Cruden, 9. Piri Weepu, 8. Rodney So`oialo, 7. Karl Lowe, 6. Michael Paterson, 5. Jeremy Thrush, 4. Bryn Evans, 3. Neemiah Tialata, 2. Andrew Hore (captain), 1. Jacob Ellison
Substitutes: 16. Dane Coles, 17. John Schwalger, 18. Nick Crosswell, 19. Scott Waldrom, 20. Tyson Keats, 21. Jason Kawau, 22. David Smith
Reds:
15. Peter Hynes, 14. Rod Davies, 13. Will Chambers, 12. Anthony Faingaa, 11. Digby Ioane, 10. Quade Cooper, 9. Will Genia (captain), 8. Leroy Houston, 7. Andrew Shaw, 6. Scott Higginbotham, 5. Van Humphries, 4. Radike Samo, 3. Greg Holmes, 2. Saia Faingaa, 1. Ben Daley
Substitutes: 16. Sean Hardman, 17. James Slipper, 18. Ezra Taylor, 19. Jake Schatz, 20. Lei Tomiki, 21. Ben Lucas, 22. Brando Va'aulu
It was the second week in a row the Hurricanes have overturned a halftime deficit as they continued a remarkable end of season run and put a serious dent in the Reds hopes of making the play-offs.
Hosea Gear touched down three times as the Hurricanes scored six tries, all by the outside backs, to three for the Reds.
The Reds, the surprise package of the championship, started the penultimate round before the play-offs in fourth place and led 21-13 at halftime against the Hurricanes before a reckless tackle cost them dearly.
Flanker Andrew Shaw was sinbinned for hurling Piri Weepu into the turf, and the 'Canes cashed in on the one-man advantage with two converted tries before the Reds were fully staffed again and by then the impetus was firmly with the home side.
"That was huge. We played in the right areas when they had a man down and played in their half for that whole time and got some good tries," said captain Andrew Hore.
"What the crowd and the Hurricanes have been waiting for all year is a performance like that in the second half."
In a match marking veteran backrower Rodney So'oialo's 100th Super appearance and the farewell home game for retiring coach Colin Cooper who has been in charge for more than 100 games, the Hurricanes struck early.
Hosea Gear and Cory Jane combined down the left flank with Jane scoring in the corner and Weepu followed up with a penalty.
The Reds replied with Quade Cooper and Will Genia exploiting holes around the Hurricanes ruck and with clever use of the inside pass they were rewarded with three tries.
Scott Higgenbotham scored the first from a Genia break around the maul and speedster Rod Davies ran 40 metres for the second when he came in from the blind side and latched on to an inside pass from Cooper.
Cooper engineered the third try when he made the initial break and chipped over the line with Will Chambers winning the race for the ball.
Gear and Jane closed the half with another break down the left side which ended with Gear scoring the first of his triple.
Gear and right wing Tamati Ellison scored while Shaw was side-lined and as the Hurricanes stepped up the pressure, Gear and replacement wing David Smith scored further tries.
Weepu finished the game with a personal tally of 14 points from four conversions and two penalties.
Teams
Hurricanes:
15. Cory Jane, 14. Tamati Ellison, 13. Conrad Smith, 12. Ma'a Nonu, 11. Hosea Gear, 10. Aaron Cruden, 9. Piri Weepu, 8. Rodney So`oialo, 7. Karl Lowe, 6. Michael Paterson, 5. Jeremy Thrush, 4. Bryn Evans, 3. Neemiah Tialata, 2. Andrew Hore (captain), 1. Jacob Ellison
Substitutes: 16. Dane Coles, 17. John Schwalger, 18. Nick Crosswell, 19. Scott Waldrom, 20. Tyson Keats, 21. Jason Kawau, 22. David Smith
Reds:
15. Peter Hynes, 14. Rod Davies, 13. Will Chambers, 12. Anthony Faingaa, 11. Digby Ioane, 10. Quade Cooper, 9. Will Genia (captain), 8. Leroy Houston, 7. Andrew Shaw, 6. Scott Higginbotham, 5. Van Humphries, 4. Radike Samo, 3. Greg Holmes, 2. Saia Faingaa, 1. Ben Daley
Substitutes: 16. Sean Hardman, 17. James Slipper, 18. Ezra Taylor, 19. Jake Schatz, 20. Lei Tomiki, 21. Ben Lucas, 22. Brando Va'aulu
