Last year was the Chiefs best season ever. They ended a four match losing streak to the Hurricanes and then went on to beat the Hurricanes again in the Semifinal and played in their first ever final.
Match detail
We are waiting for the kick off. The teams are coming on to the field.
0.01: The match is underway.
1.00: The Chiefs start well showing that they want to use the ball. The Chiefs win the first lineout but Bruce kicks the ball out on the full.
4.00: Conrad Smith makes some good ground on the wing which gets the Hurricanes into the Chiefs half. They continue to move forward and then the Chiefs give away a penalty in front of the posts.
5.00: Aaron Cruden takes the kick and puts the Hurricanes into the lead.
5.00: Ooh. Straight from the kick off Aaron Cruden fumbles the ball and Jackson Willison gathers the ball and darts off and scores under the posts.
6.00: Callum Bruce nails the conversion.
8.00: Conrad Smith goes in for a big tackle on Colin Bourke and comes off second best. He looks shaken as Cruden kicks for touch after a penalty.
12.00: The Hurricanes are showing plenty of resources in attack but the Chiefs defence continues to hold them out. Nonu makes a break and takes the support with him, Cory Jane gets the ball and finds a gap and scores.
14.00: Cruden takes the kick and misses.
18.00: The Chiefs try a less expansive game using the maul to good effect. As they get close to the line they swing it wide and Sona Taumalolo scores for the Chiefs. After checking upstairs the try is awarded.
19.00: Callum Bruce misses the conversion.
24.00:The Chiefs stretch the Hurricanes defence on either side and Tim Nanai-Williams splits them in the middle and darts off for the line and scores the third Chiefs try. He does however do himself some damage and comes off for blood.
25.00: Callum Bruce misses the conversion.
28.00: The Chiefs are running away with this. After a scrum Messam gets the ball and races off to the line and scores in the corner for the bonus point try. Tim Nanai-Williams comes back on.
29.00:Callum Bruce nails the conversion this time.
34.00: The Hurricanes work the ball into the Chiefs 25. They recycle and pass to Nonu who is having a great game and he busts through the Chiefs defence and scores for the Canes.
36.00: Aaron Cruden nails the conversion.
39.00: The Hurricanes work the ball back into the Chiefs 25, They set up a 5m attacking scrum. The scrum down does so it gets reset.
40.00: The scrum is re-set. It wheels a little and then Rodney So'oialo gathers the ball and gets to within 2m. The Canes drive again but they get a penalty. This time they go to the backs and Cruden loses it so the Chiefs run the ball.
42.00: The Chiefs win a penalty and kick the ball out for half time.
The half time score was Hurricanes 15 Chiefs 24
The second half is underway.
41.00: The Hurricanes show some early intent. Neemia Tialata injures his finger which holds the game up.
42.00: The game resumes and Aaron Cruden has a shot at the posts for a penalty. He nails it.
46.00: The Chiefs get a penalty so Colin Bourke takes the shot and misses.
50.00: There is a real scrap for the ball which ends when the touchie puts up his flag for a high tackle on Conrad Smith - a couple of minutes earlier.
51.00: Cruden kicks for the corner for the penalty. The Hurricanes win the lineout and drive the maul. The Chiefs however steal the ball and run it - Jason Hona makes serious ground but as they recycle comes Nonu intercepts and darts off but loses his footing.
53.00: The Chiefs win a penalty so Callum Bruce gets another shot at the posts. He nails it.
56.00: There is some confusion as the Hurricanes are awarded a penalty. No-one seems to know who or how many players should be on the field. Eventually they sort it out and Weepu takes the shot at goal and misses.
58.00: The Hurricanes are showing plenty in attack but the Chiefs defence has been solid for a while.
60.00: The Chiefs lose a man for 10 minutes. Luke Braid is sent to the bin after just coming on. He is pinged for not rolling away which was probably harsh as there were players on top of him. Weepu nails the penalty.
63.00: The Hurricanes are sending wave after wave of attack to the Chiefs. They just suck it all up and when they can they counter attack.
64.00: The Canes suffer something of a blow as Conrad Smith comes off. He has not been right for a while.
68.00: As the Hurricanes attack in the Chiefs half Jackson Willison intercepts and the Chiefs run the ball up to the Hurricanes line. Jane however intercepts and the Hurricanes clear the ball.
71.00: Hurricanes still banging away at the Chiefs. The Chiefs turn the ball over and run the ball into the Hurricanes 25. They seem happy to pick away a few metres at a time - which uses up time as they are leading.
73.00: Nonu makes a break and darts through the defence. He just manages to get away and then they catch but again he powers out of the tackle and shows some pace and scores ! It's his second try.
76.00: Piri Weepu takes the conversion and nails it putting the Canes into the lead.
78.00: The Hurricanes give away a penalty so Callum Bruce has to kick for what could be the match winner. He misses.
79.00: The Hurricanes realise they could get a bonus point and drive for the line. Tialata drives over the line as the siren goes for the bonus point try !!!
81.00: Piri Weepu misses the conversion but the Canes have pulled a bonus point victory out of the bag.
The final score is Hurricanes 33 Chiefs 27
Scorers
Hurricanes
Tries - C Jane, M Nonu 2, N Tialata
Pen - A Cruden 2, P Weepu
Con - A Cruden, P Weepu
Drop -
Cards -
Chiefs
Tries - J. Willison, S. Taumalolo, T Nanai-Williams , L Messam
Pen - C Bruce
Con - C Bruce 2
Drop -
Cards - Luke Braid (60) Yellow
Match Officials
Referee: Keith Brown (NZ)
Assistant referees: Vinny Munro (NZ), Garratt Williamson (NZ)
TMO: Mike Fraser (NZ)
Teams
Hurricanes - 15 Cory Jane, 14 Tamati Ellison, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 Hosea Gear, 10 Aaron Cruden, 9 Tyson Keats, 8 Rodney So'oialo, 7 Karl Lowe, 6 Victor Vito, 5 Michael Paterson, 4 Bryn Evans, 3 Neemia Tialata, 2 Andrew Hore (c), 1 John Schwalger.
Reserves: 16 Dane Coles, 17 Jacob Ellison, 18 Jeremy Thrush, 19 Nick Crosswell, 20 Piri Weepu, 21 Willie Ripia, 22 Jason Kawau.
Chiefs - 15 Tim Nanai-Williams, 14 Dwayne Sweeney, 13 Richard Kahui, 12 Jackson Willison, 11 Jason Hona, 10 Callum Bruce, 9 Junior Poluleuligaga, 8 Colin Bourke, 7 Tanerau Latimer, 6 Liam Messam (c), 5 Culum Retallick, 4 Craig Clarke, 3 Nathan White, 2 Hika Elliot, 1 Sona Taumalolo.
Reserves: 16 Aled de Malmanche/Vern Kamo, 17 Ben Afeaki, 18 Kevin O'Neill, 19 Luke Braid, 20 Brendon Leonard, 21 Trent Renata, 22 Phil Burleigh.
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