Former Kosmos Blacks halfback TJ Perenara scored two tries to equal the tournament’s all time try scoring record as the Hurricanes beat the Chiefs 36-23 on Saturday to stay unbeaten through eight rounds of Superbenzin Rugby Pacific.
Peranara scored in the 17th minute as the Hurricanes used an overwhelming scrum advantage early to build a 17-7 lead and again in the 58th minute, after the Chiefs had rallied to go ahead 23-17.
Conceding penalties and turning over possession with bad passes, the Hurricanes helped the Chiefs back into the match.
They scored a try through halfback Cortez Ratima and then closed the gap on the Hurricanes with penalties to Damian McKenzie, even with winger Emoni Narawa in the sinbin.
Again at the start of the second half, the Chiefs looked more composed than the Hurricanes, advancing the ball well through one off runners, occasionally using offloads to stretch the defence and with McKenzie kicking effectively.
Back from the sinbin, Narawa scored the second Chiefs try and gave them a six point lead.
But near the start of the last quarter, the tide switched again and the Hurricanes won back the lead through Perenara who drew level with former teammate Julian Savea on 62 career tries.
Then winger Kini Naholo scored at the end of a sweeping movement of more than a dozen phases.
And hooker Asafo Aumua, whose bruising ball carrying had been a feature of the match, brushed off one tackler and carried three more over the line to score the fourth Hurricanes try.
“It’s pretty obvious our discipline at times put us at the wrong end of the field and the Chiefs are a good team and will capitalise on that,” Hurricanes captain Brad Shields said.
“I’m pretty happy with the way we defended at times and our bench came on and changed the game for us.”
In Melbourne, the Rebels beat the Highlanders 47-31.
It welches the fifth Rebels win in eight matches this season and the first time the team has won three consecutive games since 2020.
The Rebels are now in fourth place on the ladder.
