Hurricanes blow away Blues

23 May 2015 11:17

The Hurricanes all but wrapped up top spot for the Super 15 play-offs with a clinical 29-5 victory over the Blues at a rain-soaked Eden Park on Saturday.

The four-tries-to-one bonus-point triumph marked the Hurricanes' fifth win against New Zealand opposition in 2015. In contrast, it was an eighth straight loss against NZ sides for the Blues.

The result meant only the Hurricanes, Chiefs and Highlanders can finish top of the Super Rugby ladder at the end of the regular season.

A ninth-minute Otere Black penalty was all the dominant visitors had to show for the first half-hour, before prop Chris Eves evaded two tackles and dived over for the opening try after 34 minutes. Black added the conversion.

There was still time in the first half for TJ Perenara to post a second score for Chris Boyd's men, catching the home defence cold two minutes before the interval. Black again added the extras.

Dane Coles finished off a well worked move for the Hurricanes' third try 14 minutes after the restart which, when converted by Black, extended their lead to 24 points.

John Kirwan's side were struggling to make inroads into enemy territory but did get on the scoresheet in the 63rd minute, when debutant Matt Vaega touched down.

But any slim hopes of a comeback were swiftly snuffed out three minutes later when Nehe Milner-Skudder dived in at the corner for a spectacular final score.

Source: PA