Late show blows Stormers away
CLASSY HURRICANES RUN IN SEVEN TRIES Kolisi praises his charges for putting up a fight before stumbling to fourth consecutive loss.
Defending Super Rugby champions the Hurricanes held off a gritty fightback from the Stormers to extend their winning home run to 11 matches yesterday.
The Hurricanes scored seven tries to one in the 41-22 victory, including two apiece for Jordie Barrett and Ngani Laumape, to inflict the Stormers’ fourth straight loss.
Stormers captain Siya Kolisi admitted it was a disappointing end to their three-match New Zealand tour, but took heart from a much-improved performance.
“We were playing really good rugby, then we make one mistake and they’re going for 80m tries,” he said.
While the South Africans conceded 57 points in each of their previous two outings, they were in the match until a late three-try burst from the Hurricanes.
“They frustrated us a little bit, I’ve no doubt that they’ll be there at the back end of the season,” Canes captain TJ Perenara said.
The Stormers still lead the Africa 1 conference and the Hurricanes move up to second in the New Zealand standings behind the unbeaten Crusaders.
It was the Hurricanes’ sixth consecutive win and maintains New Zealand teams’ unblemished home record against overseas opposition this season.
Two penalties from Stormers fullback SP Marais after the break levelled the scores at 22-22, but Ngani Laumape scored twice for the home side, before Canes flyhalf Beauden Barrett added another five-pointer after the siren.