Highlanders' second-half show destroys Hurricanes

MATCH REPORT: The Highlanders bid farewell to the Super Rugby Aotearoa season in fine style.

With the match all square 14-all at halftime, the Highlanders came alive in the second half, beating the Hurricanes 38-21 in Dunedin.

The Hurricanes were denied three tries during the game following intervention from the TMO, which will no doubt be critiqued in the final wrap-up.

*As it happened: Highlanders v Hurricanes 

Still, the Highlanders were undoubtedly the better team overall and can be proud of their final performance of the year.

The Hurricanes were the first team to score in very spectacular fashion. From a turnover ball, the Hurricanes set up a lethal counterattack which saw Vince Aso touched down for the first try of the match.

Jordie Barrett added the conversion for the 7-0 lead.

In typical New Zealand derby fashion, the Highlanders hit back. The replacement Ngatungane Punivai diving over the line after quick movement of the ball caught the Hurricanes’ defence short on the left-hand side for the five points. Josh Ioane levelled matters with a successful conversion.

It was a very high-pace match, however, for the Hurricanes it was certainly a very frustrating first half. They crossed the line a couple of times however were denied on both occasions, first by the touchline and then by a forward pass.

However, it was a case of third time’s a charm as Jamie Booth weaved his way over the line for his team’s second try, 14-7.

The Hurricanes’ lead was short-lived, the host levelled matters after a powerful line-out drive helped vice-captain Ash Dixon over the line for the try. Ioane added the extras, 14-all.

The opening minutes of the second stanza belonged to Highlanders with the host taking the lead for the first time courtesy of a successful penalty kick by Ioane.

Aaron Mauger’s men were just simply more aggressive and the better team in the second half. They extended their lead when a Jona Nareki offload found Michael Collins for the hosts’ third try of the match. Ioane added the extras for the 10-point lead.

It went from bad to worse for the Hurricanes. Not only were they denied a third try, but they also went down to 14 men when Ardie Savea was handed a yellow card for illegally stopping a maul and referee Ben O’Keeffe awarded the Highlanders a 7-point penalty try

31-14 quickly turned to 38-14 on the hour mark.

Mitch Hunt found some space on the right and showed off his pace for try in the corner. The fullback converted his own try.

The Hurricanes scored a consolation try in the 72nd through Peter Umaga-Jensen, but the Highlanders lead was too big as they went onto record their third win of the season.

Man of the match: For the Hurricanes Vince Aso was in fine form, he made lethal runs and put in a couple of try-saving tackles – very unlucky not to bag a brace. The Highlanders started really slow but eventually players like Aaron Smith, Ash Dixon, and Michael Collins regrouped and produced a lovely display. However, our nod goes to Highlanders fullback Mitch Hunt, who stats speak for itself. The fullback made 114 metre, 9 carries and scored a try.

The scorers:

For Highlanders:
Tries: Punivai, Dixon, Collins, Penalty try, Hunt
Cons: Ioane 3, Hunt
Pen: Ioane

For Hurricanes:
Tries: Aso, Booth, Umaga-Jensen
Cons: Barrett 3

Yellow card: Ardie Savea (Hurricanes, 55 – offside)

Teams

Highlanders: 15 Mitch Hunt, 14 Josh McKay, 13 Michael Collins, 12 Sio Tomkinson, 11 Jona Nareki, 10 Josh Ioane, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Marino Mikaele-Tu’u, 7 Dillon Hunt, 6 Shannon Frizell, 5 Jack Whetton, 4 Pari Pari Parkinson, 3 Jeff Thwaites, 2 Ash Dixon, 1 Ayden Johnstone.
Replacements: 16 Liam Coltman, 17 Daniel Lienert-Brown, 18 Siate Tokolahi, 19 Manaaki Selby-Rickit, 20 Teariki Ben-Nicholas, 21 Folau Fakatava, 22 Ngatungane Punivai, 23 Tom Florence.

Hurricanes: 15 Jordie Barrett, 14 Vince Aso, 13 Billy Proctor, 12 Peter Umaga-Jensen, 11 Wes Goosen, 10 Jackson Garden-Bachop, 9 Jamie Booth, 8 Ardie Savea, 7 Du’Plessis Kirifi, 6 Reed Prinsep, 5 Scott Scrafton, 4 James Blackwell, 3 Tyrel Lomax, 2 Dane Coles (captain), 1 Ben May.
Replacements: 16 Ricky Riccitelli, 17 Tevita Mafileo, 18 Pouri Rakete-Stones, 19 Liam Mitchell, 20 Devan Flanders, 21 Jonathan Taumateine, 22 Salesi Rayasi, 23 Chase Tiatia.

Referee: Brendon Pickerill
Assistant referees: Mike Fraser, James Doleman
TMO: Chris Hart