Classic game of shifting fortunes
THE Wellington-based Hurricanes hung on in a classic game of two halves to beat the Melbourne Rebels 29-19 in Super Rugby yesterday.
The Hurricanes scored four tries to lead 26-0 after only 21 minutes and maintained that lead at halftime.
But the Rebels mounted a concerted comeback in the second half, scoring three tries of their own to cut the lead to 26-19. The Hurricanes needed a late penalty to Jordie Barrett, and a missed penalty by Rebels flyhalf Quade Cooper to hold on to a winning lead.
“It was a classic game of two halves,” Hurricanes captain Beauden Barrett said.
“I’d hate to see the territory stats in the second half.
“It’s great to see us scoring first-phase tries. It was frustrating in the second half but we’ll learn from it.”
The Hurricanes started almost as rapidly as in their previous match against the Hamilton-based Chiefs, when they led 14-0 after six minutes.
They needed eight minutes to hit the 14-point mark but went on to lead 19-0 after 15 minutes and 26-0 after 21 minutes as the Rebels’ defence faltered. Hurricanes ball-carriers rampaged downfield, knocking tacklers out of the way.
In the fifth minute a surge into Rebels territory saw Barrett in possession near touch and 40m from the posts. THE Queensland Firebirds and Collingwood have christened a new stadium with a memorable finish in a 57-57 Super Netball draw.
Both teams had control of yesterday’s contest at various
He handed the ball to centre Ngani Laumape who cut through the Rebels defence before touching down under the posts. Barrett scored himself three minutes later.
The Hurricanes won an attacking lineout and quickly moved the ball to Barrett running wide in the backline who accelerated through the already broken defence.
The second 20 minutes of the first half became scrappy as the Rebels began to grab a foothold in the game.
By halftime the Rebels had made half as many tackles as the Hurricanes but missed twice as many, explaining the scoreboard disparity.
The tide changed in the second half; the Rebels began to make more tackles and the Hurricanes missed more as the weight of possession changed from one side to the other.
The Rebels scored through lock Matt Philip who burst through the defence and again through hard-working centre Billy Meakes, making the score 26-14 after 67 minutes.
When the Rebels scored three minutes later they had the chance to close within seven points with 10 minutes remaining, but Cooper kicked his conversion attempt wide of the left-hand upright. Cooper then missed a penalty in front of the posts with a minute left which meant the Rebels needed to score twice to win. stages of a thrilling battle, before Firebirds defender Tara Hinchliffe helped her side to grab a share of the competition points before 4578 spectators at the Queensland State Netball Centre.
Collingwood led by a goal for much of the final term but Hinchliffe stepped up with an intercept and a handful of deflections.
Firebirds goal attack Gretel Tippett (pictured) had 26 goals from 27 attempts while the Magpies’ Shimona Nelson had 42 goals at 89 per cent. Collingwood’s well-drilled line-up was unruffled until a bloodied lip, split in a collision with Hinchliffe, forced their prized recruit Nat Medhurst off the court.
While the goal attack was being treated, momentum tipped back in favour of the home side.
Replacement goaler Gabrielle Sinclair, in just her second game, couldn’t orchestrate the same harmony as Medhurst. Powered by slick shooting combination Romelda Aiken and Tippett, the Firebirds built a nine-goal advantage towards the end of the first half.