Four-try Laumape helps Hurricanes to Blues victory

Wellington’s Hurricanes ended their three match losing streak by beating New Zealand rivals the Blues 42-24 at Westpac stadium in Wellington.

All Black back Ngani Laumape delivered an exceptional performance by scoring four of the Hurricanes six tries making him the 7th player in history to score four tries in a Super rugby match.

For the Blues the Ioane brothers scored all of the tries with Rieko scoring a brace and Akira crossing for the other.

Both teams’ kicker were perfect in the match as Jordie Barrett converted six tries and Stephen Perofeta was successful in his three conversion attempts and with a penalty.

The Hurricanes bonus point victory moves the Wellington side five points clear of the Chiefs who the Canes will face next weekend in a match that should decide who finishes the season in fourth place.

The Hurricanes are heavily favoured to finish in fourth place despite their recent three match losing slump as they have a far better points differential.

The Wellington side needed a big result after they were beaten in Canberra last week and they delivered an emphatic display of their play-off credentials with Laumape and Beauden Barrett shining throughout.

While Laumape scored four tries he also set up the opening try for Savea by splitting three Blues defenders in the 11th minute.

Early in the second quarter Laumape sidestepped Blues fullback Matt Duffie with some hard running as the Hurricanes raced to a 21-3 lead after 35 minutes.

Blues and All Black back Rieko Ioane scored a try in each half but his first came outpacing Hurricanes fullback Barrett to the corner.

Laumape’s third try was a display of power and strength while his fourth was scored from sheer pace in a 50-metre run to the try-line.

Next week in the final regular season round the Blues play the Crusaders in Christchurch while the Hurricanes travel to Waikato to face the Chiefs in Hamilton.

Final score Hurricanes 42 (21) Blues 24 (10)

Scorers

Hurricanes
Tries – J.Savea, N.Laumape 4, B.Barrett
Pen –
Con – J.Barrett 6
Drop –
Cards –

Blues
Tries – R.Ioane 2, A. Ioane
Pen – S.Perofeta
Con – S.Perofeta 3
Drop –
Cards –

Match Officials
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe
Assistant Ref 1:Mike Fraser
Assistant Ref 2:Jamie Nutbrown
TMO : Aaron Paterson

Teams

Hurricanes

15 Jordie Barrett , 14 Nehe Milner-Skudder , 13 Wes Goosen , 12 Ngani Laumape , 11 Julian Savea , 10 Beauden Barrett , 9 TJ Perenara , 8 Blade Thomson , 7 Sam Henwood , 6 Brad Shields (c) , 5 Sam Lousi , 4 Vaea Fifita , 3 Ben May , 2 Ricky Riccitelli , 1 Toby Smith

Replacements : 16 James O’Reilly , 17 Fraser Armstrong , 18 Jeff Toomaga-Allen , 19 Michael Fatialofa , 20 Gareth Evans , 21 Jamie Booth , 22 Ihaia West , 23 Ben Lam

Blues

15. Matt Duffie, 14. Melani Nanai, 13. Michael Collins, 12. Rieko Ioane, 11. Caleb Clarke, 10. Stephen Perofeta, 9. Augustine Pulu ©; 8. Akira Ioane, 7. Blake Gibson, 6. Jerome Kaino, 5. Matiaha Martin, 4. Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, 3. Ofa Tuungafasi, 2. Matt Moulds, 1. Alex Hodgman

Replacements: 16. James Parsons, 17. Pauliasi Manu, 18. Sione Mafileo, 19. Ben Nee-Nee, 20. Murphy Taramai, 21. Sam Nock, 22. Bryn Gatland, 23 TJ Faiane.