Reds 26
Cruden kicked a last-minute penalty as the Hurricanes marked captain Andrew Hore's 100th Super rugby match in style to snatch a 28-26 win over the Queensland Reds in Wellington tonight.
The Manawatu pivot, who struggled with his goalkicking, held his nerve to land a 35-metre goal as the Hurricanes to deny the Reds who had battled back from 22-5 down at the break to take the lead with eight minutes left.
The loss means the Reds lose their place at the head of the Super 15 tree to the Blues after their 15-10 win over the Highlanders last night and still have yet to win at Westpac Stadium.
Super 15 standings
The Reds threatened to be the party pooper at hooker Hore's special day but instead the under-strength home side gave their long-suffering fans a rare win.
Hore, rumoured to be France-bound after the World Cup, was as industrious as ever before being replaced int he 70th minute and cut an anxious figure on the sidelines when Quade Cooper kicked a penalty to complete a second half comeback with eight minutes left.
But he was a relieved man when Cruden, recalled to the side after recovering from injury, gave him the present he craved and handed the Hurricanes just the third win of the season.
There was no hint of the late drama early on with the Reds quickly into their work with former North Harbour back Mike Harris sending centre Will Chambers into a yawning gap to get close to the home side's line and when the ball eventually came to Scott Higginbotham the No.8 stormed over to give the visitors the lead in the second minute.
It looked ominous for the Hurricanes, and the Reds had the early running before they were shocked by a Faifili Levave try which rounded off the hosts' first attacking foray. The blindside flanker slid over in the corner to level the scores after good work from Charlie Ngatai and Cruden.
The former All Blacks first five-eighth was into everything on his return to the side from injury and was instrumental in sparking a Hurricanes backline missing injured All Blacks backs Cory Jane, Conrad Smith, Ma'a Nonu and Piri Weepu.
He scooted over in the 26th minute after strong surges from Hosea Gear and Hore to spark a three-try in eight minutes as the Hurricanes took advantage of a malfunctioning Reds side.
Fullback Andre Taylor initiated the third try with a scything run from deep inside his own half and then was on the end of a backline move to cross and give the Hurricanes a sniff of an upset.
That sniff became a strong whiff when Neemia Tialata bulldozed his way over out wide and the Hurricanes went to the break 22-5 ahead.
But any thoughts of claiming a big scalp were jolted when Reds star first five-eighth Quade Cooper, who had a subdued first half, found Luke Morahan with a precise crosskick and the winger held on with a fingertips catch to cross in the corner.
Cooper, who became more prominent as the match wore on, added two penalties to chip away at the deficit and then released Morahan with an inside ball before he produced a mazy run that left a Hurricanes backline, reshuffled after the loss of Ngatai midway through the half with a serious leg injury, foundering.
Cooper's conversion cut the margin to two points and his penalty shortly later looked to have sewn up the match, but he missed a tackle on Gear which sparked the desperate late move that would culminate with penalty for offside that would snatch the match from their grasp.
- NZPA
