Vodafone Super Rugby wrap: Hurricanes survive Sharks, Chiefs keep streak alive

Sun, Apr 8, 2018, 1:07 AM
AAP
by AAP
The Hurricanes opened round eight with a thriller. Photo: Getty Images
The Hurricanes opened round eight with a thriller. Photo: Getty Images

Another thrilling week of Super Rugby wrapped up on Sunday morning.

There were some nail biters, some easy wins and a record streak adding another game to its tally.

How did the results fall in round eight?

Hurricanes vs Sharks


Ihaia West has done his best impression of Beauden Barrett for the Hurricanes who have secured a last-gasp 38-37 Super Rugby win over the Sharks in Napier.

In a Friday night thriller, inside centre Ngani Laumape crossed to put the hosts in front, five minutes after the fulltime siren, before West slotted the winning conversion from a handy spot.

It capped a flattering win for the Hurricanes, who were outplayed for long periods but capitalised on a one-man advantage in the closing stages to clinch a fifth-successive victory.

RESULT

Hurricanes 38

Tries: Laumape 2, Barrett, Aso 3

Cons: West

Pens: West 4

Sharks 37

Tries: Am 2, Schreuder, Paul

Cons: du Preez 4

Pens: du Preez 3

Sunwolves vs Waratahs


The Waratahs have won their third match in a row in 2018, with a 50-29 win over the Sunwolves.

If attacking rugby is what the people want, then the Waratahs and Sunwolves surely delivered on Saturday afternoon.

By half-time, the Waratahs had 38 points, their second-highest tally in 16 years and the Sunwolves notched up their own solid tally, in a game that was far from the grind of Canberra a week ago.

Read the full match report here.

RESULT

Sunwolves 29

Tries: Little, Wykes, Masirewa, Himeno 

Cons: Tamura 2, Parker 

Pens: Tamura 

Waratahs 50 

Tries: Gordon 2, Rona, Miller, Hegarty, Hooper, Naiyaravoro 

Cons: Foley 6 

Pens: Foley 

Yellow Card: Hooper (64’)

Chiefs vs Blues


A penalty try in the closing minutes has gifted the Chiefs a 21-19 win over the Blues and continued the most lop-sided rivalry in Super Rugby history.

Trailing for most of the second half in Hamilton on Saturday, the home side gradually took control up front and made the decisive play soon after the Blues were reduced to 14 men.

The Chiefs already had an edge at scrum time before lock Josh Goodhue was shown a yellow card.

It was amplified in a series of scrums on the Blues tryline before referee Paul Williams ran out of patience in the 74th minute and ran between the uprights.

The penalty try provided the only points in the second half and handed the Chiefs their fifth successive win.

More notably, it was the 14th successive game without a loss to the Blues - a streak that is longer than any rivalry in the competition's history.

RESULT

Chiefs 21

Tries: Wainui, Penalty

Pens: McKenzie 3

Blues 19

Tries: Parsons

Cons: Perofeta

Pens: Perofeta 4

Brumbies vs Reds


The Brumbies have had their very own 'Hand of God' moment at GIO Stadium, as ACT claimed a much-needed 45-21 win over the Reds.

With the match delicately poised in the Brumbies' favour with 20 to play - leading 24-18 - Aidan Toua slipped an offload through a tackle which was knocked down by David Pocock.

The loose ball found the hands of Samu Kerevi, who ran 20 metres to score, untouched.

The passage looked a try to most watching, but referee Ben O'Keeffe had other ideas, blowing a knock on, while TMO George Ayoub, watched four replays of Pocock appearing to slap the ball to ground without intervening.

It was akin to Diego Maradona's handball turned goal at the 1986 World Cup and Queensland were forced to settle for a penalty when they could have reclaimed the lead.

From that point forward, it was all ACT, as they scored three late tries to surge clear.

Full match report here.

RESULT

Brumbies 45

Tries: , Naisarani 2, Faingaa, Peni, Rory Arnold, Carter, Pocock 

Cons: Lealiifano 4, Hawera 

Reds 21 

Tries: Tupou, Feauai-Sautia 

Cons: Lance 

Pens: Lance 2, Tuttle

Lions vs Stormers


Lions winger Madosh Tambwe scored four tries as his side recorded a 52-31 win over the Stormers in Saturday's Super Rugby clash at Ellis Park.

Lionel Mapoe, Kwagga Smith, Franco Mostert and Ruan Combrinck added four more tries as the Stormers suffered yet another away defeat.

Wilco Louw, Damian Willemse and substitute Paul de Wet, playing only his second Super Rugby game, scored for the Cape Town-based outfit in an entertaining contest that leaves the Lions comfortably top of the South African standings.

RESULT

Lions 52

Tries: Tambwe 4, Mapoe, Smith, Mostert, Combrinck

Cons: Jantjies 6

Stormers 31

Tries: Louw, Willemse, De Wet, Penalty

Cons: Marais 2, Willemse

Pens: Marais

Jaguares vs Crusaders


The Crusaders showed why they're regarded as the best travellers in Super Rugby with a 40-14 defeat of the Jaguares in Buenos Aires.

The visitors scored six tries to two, including doubles to wingers George Bridge and Manasa Mataele, while five-eighth Mitch Hunt scored 13 points.

The bonus-point win lifts the Crusaders to one point behind the Lions at the top of the overall standings through eight rounds.

Jaguares 14

Tries: Tuculet, Boffelli

Cons:  Sanchez 2

Crusaders 40

Tries: Bridge 2, Mataele 2, Hunt, Crotty, 

Cons: Hunt 4, Delany

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