Hurricanes hang tough

The Hurricanes survived a red card to Scott Scrafton, notched their first win of Super Rugby Aotearoa and at the same time ended the Chiefs’ hopes, after a

25–18 win in Hamilton yesterday. Lock Scrafton was shown a second yellow card with 15 minutes to play at FMG Stadium Waikato, but by then the visitors had done plenty enough and held off a desperate Chiefs surge in this battle of the desperates.

Both team were winless going into the match. The loss means the Chiefs are 0-4 in the eight-game competition, their hopes gone, as a crowd of

15,031 were again made to wince at their attacking struggles.

It took the hosts 65 minutes to break the Canes – by way of a penalty try as Damian McKenzie took a quick tap and charged at the line, where an offside Scrafton was shown red by referee Ben O’Keeffe, having only just been back on the field after being the sinbin scapegoat due to a team warning.

Lachlan Boshier scored with three minutes left to set up hopes of a miracle, but it was all too little too late, as the returning Jordie Barrett proved crucial for the visitors, who had Kobus van Wyk dot down for a double.

In his first game back from a shoulder injury, Barrett was the major influence, being a key force in the Canes’ good stuff, while also kicking 10 points off the tee – including a massive 60-metre effort right on halftime.

Barrett was everywhere, from the first play of the match, which saw him wind up and run over the