Super Rugby: Ill-disciplined Hurricanes beaten by Blues

The Blues ended a nine-match losing streak against the Hurricanes, who had just 12 men on the field during the closing stages of their 24-15 defeat.

Ben Lam and Akira Ioane traded tries and Jordie Barrett slotted over a penalty to give the Hurricanes an 8-7 lead, then, in the 47th minute, prop Tyrel Lomax’s shoulder-led tackle to Stephen Perofeta’s head resulted in a red card.

Mark Telea’s try put the Blues ahead but Jacobus van Wyk’s five-pointer and Barrett’s subsequent conversion meant the 14 men still held a one-point lead with 12 minutes to go. 

Yet Vaea Fifita’s no-arms tackle resulted in a sin-binning and Barrett joined him when he intentionally knocked on to give the Blues a match-sealing penalty try.

As well as tasting their first victory over the Hurricanes since 2014, the Blues recorded their third successive Super Rugby win.

Tonight’s forecasted hurricane has been downgraded to a light breeze.#BluesAllDay #WhateverItTakes #HURvBLU #OnTheRoadWithIveco pic.twitter.com/R0qX11U4kE

— The Blues (@BluesRugbyTeam) March 7, 2020

The Rebels secured a bonus-point win by easing to a 37-17 triumph over the Lions, exacting a measure of revenge after blowing a 28-point advantage to lose last year’s meeting in South Africa.

Andrew Kellaway crossed for two of their five tries, with Richard Hardwick, Isi Naisarani and Dane Haylett-Petty also going over.

The Rebels’ victory, their first over the Lions, was even more impressive as they played the final 20 minutes with 14 men after Marika Koroibete and then Tom English were both set to the sin bin.

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