SUPER 14: Hurricanes blow away the Cheetahs, move up to fifth

Piri Weepu of the Hurricanes, front center, feeds the backline supported by teammate Rodney So’oialo, back right, during their Super 14 match against the Cheetahs at Kimberley Stadium in Kimberly, South Africa, on Saturday. PHOTO: AFP

The Wellington Hurricanes ran in six tries to score an emphatic 38-10 victory over the Central Cheetahs on Saturday to move into fifth place on the Super 14 table.

The visitors led 21-10 at the interval.

Playing the rock-hard field of Kimberley, a small diamond mining town in the Northern Cape and the second home of the Cheetahs, the Hurricanes were unstoppable in keeping alive their hopes of reaching the playoffs.

The New Zealanders now have 31 points after 10 games and six wins, while the Cheetahs remain in second last place after suffering their ninth defeat of the season.

While home side were the first to register a score, via a penalty by Conrad Barnard, it was the men from New Zealand who dominated the first period.

They won plenty of ball and with the Cheetahs missing too many tackles to be a factor, they scored three first half tries through Jason Eaton, Rodney So’oialo and Ma’a Nonu.

Eaton the first to breach the Cheetahs’ line when he broke through two tackles after the home side had lost their own lineout throw. Then just two minutes later it was the turn of So’oialo, who intercepted a Juan Smith pass to gallop in from well over 50m.

Piri Weepu converted both tries to give the visitors a comfortable 14-3 lead.

The Cheetahs though, despite their inefficiencies in defense, asked some questions of the Hurricanes and they were rewarded on 24 minutes when speedy winger Jongi Nokwe rounded off.

But the Hurricanes, who controlled matters far better than their opponents, finished the first 40 minutes the far stronger outfit and they scored their third try, by Nonu, after another elementary error by the Cheetahs.

Prop C.J. van der Linde tried a chip kick over the advancing Hurricanes defenders, just to land the ball straight in the hands of lock Jeremy Thrush, who took the ball upfield, for Nonu to finish off. The Wellington-based side then collected their four-try bonus point almost straight after the restart when Zac Guildford crossed the Cheetahs’ tryline for his team’s fourth try.

Fullback Cory Jane got his team’s fifth try after collecting a clever chip kick over the Cheetahs backs. Then, with two minutes remaining, Thomas Waldrom dived over after missing a try-scoring chance moments earlier.



■ WESTERN STORMERS 26,HIGHLANDERS 16

AFP, CAPE TOWN

The Western Stormers scored two tries in an action-packed second half to down the Otago Highlanders 26-16 in their Super 14 match on Saturday.

In a rather disappointing first half performance, the home side battled to string passes together and had to settle for nine points via the boot of former Otago star, Tony Brown.

The former All Black fly-half slotted three penalties for the home side, while the Highlanders’ points came via the boot of Mike Delany, who recorded two penalties and a drop-goal. The teams changed sides at 9-9.

But the Stormers got into their rhythm in the second period, with Peter Grant replacing the injured Brown at No. 10, and it was Grant who quickly put his side into the lead with a fourth three-pointer.

Then, on the 50-minute mark, the Stormers finally found their way past the Highlanders’ defense with hooker Tiaan Liebenberg crashing over in the right-hand corner. Ten minutes later it was the turn of Schalk Brits, who had replaced Liebenberg in the front row, to cross the line; the conversion by Grant making it 26-9 for the home side.

But just when everyone thought the Highlanders were going to leave without scoring a try, they conjured up some magic late in the game — in fact in the 82nd minute — when winger Fetu Vainikolo crossed over after fielding a high kick from replacement No. 10 James Wilson.

The Stormers next face the Brumbies, while the Highlanders are up against the Cheetahs.