Hurricanes 21 Force 10
View photosKEY POINTS:
It's onwards and upwards for the Hurricanes as they clinically wore down Western Force to post a 21-10 Super 14 rugby win in Wellington tonight.
It cemented the Hurricanes a place in the top four and other results this weekend plus the outcome of their final match against the Blues next week will determine whether they will have a home semifinal.
Difficult conditions greeted the players but the rain and a swirling wind brought out a disciplined, structured approach seldom associated with the Hurricanes.
Short inter-passing, retention of possession and control of field position were the order of the day and the home side duly delivered on all counts as they ever so slowly wrestled the Force into submission.
The Hurricanes controlled much of the play in the first half when the Force stayed in the contest at 3-10 behind on the back of some stout defence.
A penalty to halfback Piri Weepu gave the Hurricanes some reward for their endeavours in the early exchanges and he also converted a try to hooker Andrew Hore in the 12th minute as they extended that advantage to 10-0.
Hore's try, his fifth of the season, owed a great deal to his considerable strength in the tight as he burrowed his way over from the bowels of a ruck near the line.
The Hurricanes employed their forwards to good effect, Hore, lock Jeremy Thrush and loose forwards Rodney So'oialo and Chris Masoe prominent as they regularly employed the pick-and-go to gain ground.
The Force were mostly deployed on a defensive brief as the Hurricanes forwards dominated possession.
They coped admirably to repeatedly slow down the delivery of ball to Weepu but had no opportunities to express themselves on attack.
First five-eighth Matt Giteau accounted for their only points before halftime with a penalty after he had missed two earlier attempts.
It was more of the same after the break, the Hurricanes forwards laying the platform as the home side eased out to a decisive 16-3 advantage by the 56th minute after two more penalties from Weepu.
A thunderous tackle by second five-eighth Ma'a Nonu on teenaged opposite James O'Connor almost led to a try two minutes later.
The force of Nonu's tackle knocked the ball from O'Connor's grasp but Scott Waldrom, who toed the ball through, was denied by a diving and desperate Giteau.
A hardy crowd was rewarded for its patience soon afterwards, though, when quick hands from his insides gave winger Hosea Gear the space he needed for a try down the right flank in the 64th minute.
The Force hit back with their only try very much against the run of play three minutes from fulltime when fullback Cameron Shepherd chased his own kick ahead and narrowly beat Waldrom to the ball.
Hurricanes 21 (Andrew Hore, Hosea Gear tries; Piri Weepu 3 pen, con) Western Force 10 (Cameron Shepherd try; Matt Giteau pen, con). Halftime: 10-3.
- NZPA
