8 Mar 2014

Brumbies quell Hurricanes in Wellington

9:08 am on 8 March 2014

The Hurricanes have fumbled their way to a third straight defeat in the Super Rugby competition, falling to the visiting ACT Brumbies 29-21 in Wellington.

In a scrappy match the Brumbies were far more clinical on both attack and defence, notching four tries to earn a bonus point and their second win from three games, while keeping their hosts winless in their first home game at Westpac Stadium.

The Hurricanes raced out to a 13-3 lead midway through the first half with a try to halfback TJ Perenara in the 31st minute, before the Brumbies burst into action, the visitors scoring twice before half-time to snatch a 15-13 advantage at the break.

The Brumbies then dominated possession in the second half, scoring twice more before the Hurricanes snatched a consolation try to No.8 Blade Thomson just before full-time.

The All Black Beauden Barrett, who'd kicked superbly all night, missed the final conversion that would have given the Hurricanes a bonus point.

Elsewhere, the Queensland Reds scored a 43-33 bonus-point victory over South African side the Cheetahs in their first home game at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.

Auckland-born Wallabies star Quade Cooper landed 18 points to become the highest point scorer in Super Rugby history for the Reds.