Hurricanes

Hurricanes Storm into top four

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The Hurricanes blew the Stormers away in Wellington when they picked up a 34-11 bonus victory moving them into the top four on the Super 14 table.

 

With matches still to come the Hurricanes moved from seventh place into third on the Super 14 table.

Ma’a Nonu (pictured) scored two of the Hurricanes tries with the other coming from Jeremy Thrush and Tamati Ellison. David Smith and Corey Jane yet again had good games.


The visiting Stormers suffered an early blow when they lost their captain Jean De Villiers in the first five minutes of the match.

 


Ripia, starting in place of regular flyhalf Piri Weepu, kicked two penalties and the conversions of the Hurricanes’ four tries to seal his team’s sixth win from nine matches this season, keeping them in semifinal contention.


Lock Jeremy Thrush and winger Tamati Ellison scored first-half tries for the Hurricanes, who led 17-8 at halftime, while All Blacks center Nonu scored two brilliant second-half tries.


The Stormers lost their captain, Springboks center Jean de Villiers, after only six minutes with a serious knee injury and missed his leadership, stumbling to their heaviest loss of the season.


De Villiers’ replacement, Dylan des Fontaine, scored with his first touch of the ball but his was the Stormers’ only try and flyhalf Peter Grant, in contrast to Ripia, managed only two penalties from five shots at goal.


“We achieved what we came out to do…to win,” Hurricanes captain Rodney So’oialo said.


“The boys wanted to focus and hold onto possession and we did that during the second half. We’re very happy with our second spell.”


De Villiers was still limping from the field clutching an ice pack when des Fontaine scored the first try of the match, giving the Stormers an unexpected 5-0 lead.


Des Fontaine kicked out of defence, from his own 22, pursued his kick and managed to keep the ball alive, toeing it over the Hurricanes live and scoring amid a fractured defense.


Ripia’s first penalty cut the margin, then Thrush scored the Hurricanes’ first try in the 16th minute, athletically supporting a break by winger David Smith and scrumhalf Albie Mathewson.


Ellison scored on the right wing in the 32nd minute when long passes put him beyond the last defender after a concerted Hurricanes’ attack.


Grant’s first kicking success from three attempts left the Hurricanes ahead 17-8 at the interval.


Ripia’s second penalty extended the Hurricanes lead after only two minutes of the second half.


Nonu then scored in the 52nd and 62nd minutes of the second half to make the Hurricanes win certain before a crowd of more than 20,000.


Nonu’s first try was the best of the match, made by fullback Cory Jane who fielded a speculative kick from the Stormers, launched a counterattack and linked with Nonu who ran 30 meters to score.


The Hurricanes were dangerous all match off turnovers and in counterattack, though the match was scoreless for its last 18 minutes.

 

Final Score Hurricanes 34 Stormers 11

Scorers


Hurricanes
Tries -Jeremy Thrush,Tamati Ellison,Ma’a Nonu 2  
Penalties -Willie Ripia 2
Conversions -Willie Ripia 4
Drop Goals –


Stormers
Tries -Dylan Des Fountain
Penalties -Peter Grant 3
Conversions –
Drop Goals –


 

 

Venue: Westpac Stadium, Wellington
Kick-off: Saturday 18 April, 5.30pm (local), 3.30pm (AEST)

 

Match Officials
Referee: Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa),
Assistant referees: tbc (New Zealand), Joey Salmans (South Africa),
Television match official: tbc (New Zealand)

 

Teams

Hurricanes: 1. Jacob Ellison ,2. Andrew Hore,3. Neemia Tialata,4. Jeremy Thrush,5. Jason Eaton,6. Victor Vito ,7. Scott Waldrom ,8. Rodney So’oialo (c),9.  Alby Mathewson ,10. Willie Ripia ,11. David Smith,12. Ma’a Nonu,13. Conrad Smith,14. Tamati Ellison ,15. Cory Jane


Reserves:16. Dane Coles,17. Tim Fairbrother ,18. Bryn Evans ,19. Karl Lowe,20.  Daniel Kirkpatrick ,21. Jason Kawau ,22. Zac Guildford.


Stormers: JD Moller, Tiaan Liebenberg, Wicas Blauw, Hilton Lobberts, Adriaan Fondse, Schalk Burger, Duane Vermeulen, Luke Watson, Dewaldt Duvenage, Peter Grant, Sireli Naqelevuki, Jean De Villiers, Gcobani Bobo, Wylie Human, Conrad Jantjes.


Replacements Schalk Brits, Brok Harris, A.J. Venter, Pieter Louw, Enrico Januarie, Willem de Waal, Dylan Des Fountain.


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