The Hurricanes were made to work for a 42-20 bonus point Super Rugby victory over a Southern Kings team that refused to give up in Wellington.
The final score-line suggests that the Hurricanes earned a comfortable victory but two late Canes tries against the Kings distort how the match played out.
The Hurricanes made a strong start in the match and led by three tries at 19-3 before allowing the Kings to get back into the match and close to within two points at half time.
All Blacks flyhalf Beauden Barrett scored a total of 22 points including the final try which earn the Hurricanes the bonus point.
Barrett pounced on a loose ball from a line out overthrow and raced away to score a try which made the scoreline flattering for the hosts.
Minutes earlier replacement Vince Aso also scored a try for the Hurricanes which finally broke the backs of the resilient Kings who were in the match until Aso crossed.
Up until the 66th minute of the second half when Barrett kicked a penalty the teams were only separated by five points or less.
Earlier the Hurricanes had shown great intent and put a lot of pressure on the Kings with ball in hand. They started off at a blistering tempo and found lots of holes in the Port Elizabeth team’s defence.
Big inside centre Ngani Laumape opened the scoring for the home side in the sixth minute after finding space on the outside and strolling over the line for the try.
The Kings, though, were awarded a penalty three minutes later the Hurricanes’ Chris Eves was blown up for going off his feet in the ruck. Kings flyhalf Louis Fouche took the kick at goal and got his side on to the scoreboard.
But the Hurricanes continued their dominance when they scored their second try in the 14th minute. Hooker Dane Coles created the score with a brilliant run through the Kings defence before offloading to Blade Thompson to score.
The Hurricanes then scored a third try in the 27th minute after a top counter attack. The Kings tried to clear their lines with a horrible kick, which allowed the home team to come at them. Openside flank Ardie Savea then made a great line break before going all the way to score under the posts.
However, the Kings fought back towards the end of the first half, and scored two converted tries before the break. Lock Steven Sykes scored the first of them in the 30th minute after running a great angle off Fouche’s shoulder.
The flyhalf then scored a try of his own on the stroke of halftime after taking advantage of a great break and offload by centre Shane Gates.
After a bit of an arm wrestle in the first 14 minutes of the second half, the Hurricanes extended their lead with a couple Beauden Barrett penalties.
Fouche then responded with a penalty of his own to keep the Kings in the game at 25-20.
Barrett added another penalty to make it 28-20 with 11 minutes to go in the match, before Vince Aso scored a try after a great run by Hurricanes replacement prop Loni Uhila.
Barrett then capped off a great performance with a try in the 80th minute by running straight through after the visitors butchered a line-out.
The victory is the Hurricanes third straight win this season and is the Kings fourth straight loss.
Next week in Round 6 the Hurricanes have a bye while the Southern Kings return home to Port Elizabeth where they will host the Sunwolves.
Final Score Hurricanes 42 (19) Southern Kings 20 (17)
Scorers
Hurricanes
Tries – N.Laumape ,B. Thomson, A.Savea, V.Aso, B.Barrett
Pen – B.Barrett
Con -B.Barrett 5
Drop –
Cards –
Southern Kings
Tries – S.Sykes, L.Fouche
Pen – L.Fouche
Con – L.Fouche 2
Drop –
Cards –
Match Officials
Referee: Brendon Pickerill
Assistant Ref 1:Nick Briant
Assistant Ref 2:Kane McBride
TMO : Aaron Paterson
Teams
Hurricanes
15 James Marshall , 14 Cory Jane , 13 Willis Halaholo 12 Ngani Laumape , 11 Jason Woodward , 10 Beauden Barrett , 9 TJ Perenara (vc) , 8 Blade Thomson , 7 Ardie Savea , 6 Vaea Fifita , 5 Mark Abbott , 4 Michael Fatialofa , 3 Jeff Toomaga-Allen , 2 Dane Coles (c) , 1 Chris Eves
Replacments: Ricky Riccitelli, Loni Uhila, Ben May, Geoff Cridge, Callum Gibbins, Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, Vince Aso, Matt Proctor.
Southern Kings
15 Jurgen Visser , 14 Luzuko Vulindlu , 13 Stefan Watermeyer , 12 Shane Gates (vc) , 11 Malcolm Jaer , 10 Louis Fouche , 9 Ntando Kebe , 8 Jacques Engelbrecht , 7 Stefan Willemse , 6 CJ Velleman , 5 JC Astle , 4 Steven Sykes (C) , 3 Jacobie Adriaanse , 2 Edgar Marutlulle , 1 Sti Sithole
Replacements : 16. Martin Bezuidenhoudt , 17. Justin Ackerman , 18. Tom Botha , 19. Schalk Oelofse , 20. Chris Cloete , 21. Kevin Luiters , 22. Elgar Watts , 23. JP Du Plessis
