Hurricanes draw with Crusaders in Wellington
Ma’a Nonu in training
The Crusaders and Hurricanes played out a dramatic 26-26 draw in a Super 14 clash on Friday.
The Crusaders held a slender 18-14 lead at half time after getting off to a flying start, running into an 18-0 lead thanks to two tries from Kieran Reid and Zac Guildford lead before 2 tries from Ma’a Nonu and Jeremy Thrush brought the hosts back into the match.
Hurricanes scrumhalf Piri Weepu slotted four penalties in the second half to lift the home side to a 26-21 lead until the last seconds of the match when South African referee Jonathan Kaplan called on the TMO to make the decisive call and award the try to the Crusaders hooker Ti’i Paulo.
Dan Carter stepped up for the pressure conversion to win the match but his usually-trustworthy boot let him down as both teams had to settle for a draw.
Scorers:
Hurricanes
Tries: Nonu, Thrush
Conversions: Ripia (2)
Penalties: Weepu (4)
Crusaders
Tries: Reid, Guildford, Paolo
Penalties: Carter (3)
Conversions: Carter (1)
Teams
Hurricanes:
15. Cory Jane, 14. Andre Taylor, 13. Conrad Smith, 12. Ma’a Nonu, 11. Hosea Gear, 10. Willie Ripia, 9. Piri Weepu, 8. Rodney So’oialo, 7. Karl Lowe, 6. Victor Vito, 5. Michael Paterson, 4. Jeremy Thrush, 3. Neemia Tialata, 2. Andrew Hore (captain), 1. John Schwalger
Substitutes: 16. Dane Coles, 17. Anthony Perenise, 18. Bryn Evans, 19. Scott Waldrom, 20. Tyson Keats, 21. Aaron Cruden, 22. Jason Kawau
Crusaders:
15. Colin Slade, 14. Sean Maitland, 13. Robert Fruean, 12. Ryan Crotty, 11. Zac Guildford, 10. Dan Carter, 9. Andy Ellis, 8. Kieran Read, 7. George Whitelock, 6. Richie McCaw (captain), 5. Sam Whitelock, 4. Brad Thorn, 3. Owen Franks, 2. Ti’i Paulo, 1. Wyatt Crockett
[Info from Sport24.co.za]
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