2 May 2010

Hurricanes keep faint Super 14 hopes alive

6:05 pm on 2 May 2010

The Hurricanes have kept their Super 14 rugby hopes alive - snatching a come from behind 33-27 victory over the Chiefs in Wellington.

The visitors got off to a flyer, and had their four-try bonus point inside half an hour, thanks to tries from Jackson Willison, Sona Taumalolo, Tim Nanai-Williams and an intercept by captain Liam Messam.

Ma'a Nonu powered through three tacklers in the 36th minute to reduce the half-time deficit to 24-15.

It took another Nonu try to finally put the Hurricanes back in contention, before Piri Weepu coolly slotted the conversion to give them a 28-27 lead with three minutes left.

Callum Bruce then capped off a poor night with the boot, missing a 79th minute penalty kick, before Neemia Tialata scored on the siren to grab an unlikely bonus point win for Colin Cooper's side.