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The Hurricanes' lethal counter-attack saw them storm past the ACT Brumbies 33-15 and rack up a fourth consecutive Super 14 rugby win in Canberra tonight.
The Hurricanes notched four second half tries, including a double to flanker Chris Masoe, to temporarily leap to second on the points table with a five tries-to-two victory.
In the process they equalled the Brumbies' biggest losing margin in Canberra of 18 points, stretching back to 1998 against South Africa's Sharks.
It was the injury-hit Brumbies' first loss in seven matches at Canberra Stadium.
Thanks to a muscular forward display, tough defence and some brilliant finishing from Brumbies turnovers, the Hurricanes put it beyond doubt after a dour first half.
They led 14-8 with 20 minutes remaining then scored three tries in 12 minutes, the best of them a sweeping 90m effort sparked by Tane Tu'ipulotu and finished by winger Hosea Gear.
Masoe then steamed onto short passes near the Brumbies line for his two touchdowns to inflate the margin, capping a strong performance from the visitors' loose forward trio.
Daytime temperatures of mid-30degC in Canberra suggested an open, running encounter on a warm evening, but it was far from it in the first half as South African referee Willie Roos' whistle dominated.
The Hurricanes claimed a 7-3 halftime lead thanks to a counter-attacking try after the hosts dominated possession in the first quarter.
It was messy opening stanza dominated by turnovers as both sides fiercely contested the breakdown area.
The Brumbies benefited from eight penalties or free kicks in the opening 20 minutes but had a solitary penalty by Mark Gerrard, from three attempts, to show for it.
They were also kept scoreless by the Hurricanes during the 10-minute absence of midfielder Tamati Ellison, who was sinbinned for a dubious high tackle in the 13th minute.
The Hurricanes rumbled back into the match with their superior scrum and a flurry of free kicks from Roos as they finally hit the front in the 32nd minute.
Prop Jacob Ellison, in his Super 14 run-on debut, pinched a turnover 60m out and winger Hosea Gear dashed 25m before clever interplay from All Black Conrad Smith sent Shannon Paku over under the posts.
Roos kept punishing the hosts for breakdown infringements and the Hurricanes struck the killer blow 15 minutes into the second half.
After a prolonged buildup, hooker Andrew Hore was rewarded for strong game with a try from a ruck near the Brumbies' line.
To compound the hosts' misery, key loose forward Stephen Hoiles was sinbinned by Roos for foul language.
But the Brumbies hit back immediately against the run of play, when halfback Josh Holmes slipped down the blindside and fed replacement Julian Salvi who scored out wide.
Gerrard's third miss from four attempts kept the Hurricanes at a 14-8 lead entering the final quarter before the visitors raced clear.
-NZPA
