KEY POINTS:
The Hurricanes scraped together a vital Super 14 rugby win to keep their slim semifinal hopes alive by beating the Bulls 17-9 here tonight.
It was the Hurricanes' first victory in five matches and the four competition points moved them to 18, leaving them mid-table with three matches remaining this weekend.
They led 12-9 at halftime and with both teams showing little adventure or imagination with the ball the Hurricanes ground out their fourth win from nine matches.
With a bye next week, the under-performing finalists from 2006 desperately needed the win.
Despite the positive result on the scoreboard at Westpac Stadium, the Hurricanes are still playing like a zephyr and will need a successive run of victories to make a late semifinals dash.
The Bulls, who won an impressive three from five matches on the road, are still well placed for a top-four finish with three home games looming in Pretoria.
Hurricanes coach Colin Cooper gambled by shifting All Blacks halfback Piri Weepu into first-five eighth for the game.
The punt paid off with Weepu kicking four penalties and contributing to the only try of the match in a sound first start in the No 10 jersey.
The contest finally received a much needed spark in the 63rd minute.
From a scrum inside the Hurricanes' half Weepu punched through a grubber kick which he regathered and fed to fullback Corey Jane.
Jane weaved upfield before flicking a great ball around a Bulls defender to wing Hosea Gear who crossed in the corner.
The Hurricanes dominated the final 15 minutes, constantly carving holes in the Bulls defence which was also hampered when Francois van Schouwenburg was sinbinned in the 74th minute.
The Hurricanes started the match with vigour and confidence, choosing to run the ball out from their own goal line.
Their impetus was mostly maintained by loose forwards Jerry Collins and Rodney So'oialo, who featured prominently.
The Bulls' gameplan was evident early on as first five-eighth Derick Hougaard frequently kicked for territory to utilise their impressive lineout.
Tries, however, were hard to come by with the only points in the first half coming from four Weepu penalties while Hougaard slotted two.
The Bulls have a bye next week while the Hurricanes' next match is against the Cheetahs in Wellington on April 13.
Hurricanes 17 (Hosea Gear try, Piri Weepu 4 pen) Bulls 9
(Derick Hougaard 3 pen). Halftime: 12-9.
- NZPA
