South African Rugby

Sunday, March 12, 2006

Hurricanes 23-19 win over the Stormers

The Hurricanes, scored two tries in the final five minutes, sneaked a late 23-19 win in their Super 14 Round Five match against the Stormers at Newlands on Saturday. The victory allowed the New Zealanders to move back into second place on the standings ,which does suck.

The 'Canes certainly used a get out-of-jail-free card in getting the win over a hapless Stormers team in this game.

The home team will be kicking themselves after yet another defeat at the hands of Australasian teams, especially given the visitors' shocking showing in the line-outs, but the classy tourists just managed to string together enough passes at the right time; even outscoring their hosts by three tries to one in the process.

The Hurricanes tries were scored by skipper Rodney So'oialo, second five-eighth Tane Tu'ipulotu and left-wing Hosea Gear - the last two five-pointers coming in the last final five minutes with the 'Canes 13-19 down - whilst the Stormers scored one try through hooker Schalk Brits, with fly-half Peter Grant adding 14 points through his boot.

Aside from the many mistakes made by both teams, it was all the Stormers in the first 40 minutes as the Men in Black built up a useful 9-3 half-time lead.

Crowd favourite and fit-again Springbok star Jean de Villiers got a plus.

Bulls 23-16 Highlanders

The Bulls edged the highlander 23-16 in a pulsating Super 14 Round Five encounter at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on Saturday. The Bulls outscored the visitors by two tries to one, with the Bulls' extra converted try the difference in the end.

The nartjie boys must have gone ballistic.

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