Second-half tries to Cory Jane, Callum Gibbins and Nehe Milner-Skudder extended Wellington’s perfect start to the season as the Hurricanes beat the Melbourne Rebels 36-12 yesterday.
The Hurricanes are the only unbeaten side in Super Rugby this season and opened up a seven-point lead over Australia’s ACT Brumbies, who are in second place in the table on 20 points after also playing six games.
Rebels fullback Mike Harris slotted four first-half penalties as the Hurricanes were penalised heavily at the breakdown.
Photo: AFP
Hurricanes scrumhalf T.J. Perenara, celebrating his 50th Super Rugby cap for the team, capped off a hard-running move by his teammates with a try, which was converted by Jason Woodward.
Woodward, who played two seasons for the Rebels before returning home to Wellington late last year, added a penalty to narrow the deficit to 12-10.
The Hurricanes put the game away in the second half, with winger Jane and flanker Gibbins scoring after the Hurricanes kicked ahead and put pressure on the Rebels defenders.
Fullback Milner-Skudder scored two tries in the final five minutes after some excellent buildup work as the home side kept the Rebels tryless in the match and scoreless in the second half.
Elsewhere, the Lions rounded off a successful Super Rugby road trip by heaping more misery on the struggling Queensland Reds with an 18-17 win in Brisbane.
The Johannesburg-based side showed no signs of weariness despite four weeks away as they soaked up waves of Reds pressure to earn their third win of the tour and season after victories over the Melbourne Rebels and Auckland Blues.
Harold Vorster crossed for his first Super Rugby try in the opening half with flanker Warwick Tecklenburg adding a second after the break to hand the 2011 champion Reds their fifth loss in six matches this season.
The Reds lead 17-15 late in the game, but ill discipline allowed the Lions an easy opportunity to slot a penalty from in front.
Frantic defense in the final stages ensured the win, with a Quade Cooper drop goal effort charged down by the Lions to end the game.
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