Collins breaks dreaded curse

Hurricanes 26 Waratahs 24

At last Ross Kennedy can look his mum in the eye, while the curse of the Hurricanes 50-club has been broken.

Jerry Collins joined 10 other Hurricanes to play 50 games for the franchise yesterday, and became the first to celebrate the achievement with a win.

Kennedy broke a drought of a different kind when he scored his first try in either the Super 12 or NPC during the win against the Waratahs.

The exuberant lock had been receiving some ribbing on the home front for his inability to get over the tryline, so he celebrated in triumphant fashion with a crowd "pump" followed by a point to the heavens.

Lome Fa'atau's try was dramatic - he caught a kick ahead one-handed and below his hip, and it secured the win - but Kennedy's was more significant.

It came after the Hurricanes held the ball through 12 rucks.

It showed they can be effective with the pick-and-go and that patience does have its rewards.

"It was brilliant, just brilliant," a beaming Kennedy said of his try.

"It's my first try in professional rugby so it's been a three-year drought. I was getting a bit desperate, hence my show of emotion.

"There'd been a few comments at home [from his mother and brother] so it's nice to have scored."

Fa'atau was more mystified than elated by his try, claiming he had caught the ball more by good luck than any careful planning.

"We'd called the box kick [which was a towering bomb by halfback Piri Weepu] and I just kept chasing it.

"I prayed the ball would bounce up and it did, so I just stuck my hand out."

It was almost the tale of the match as there was something unique about each of the seven tries.

Hurricanes flanker Chris Masoe scored his try two minutes after replacing Ben Herring - and was immediately subbed off during the halftime break as Herring had been patched up.

Waratahs wing Peter Hewat, fast gaining a reputation for interceptions, scored his first off a rare cross kick by Lote Tuqiri.

The Hurricanes seemed destined to score when Shannon Paku flicked the ball to Jimmy Gopperth with the line open and only 20m away.

But Gopperth stumbled slightly - enough for the defence to engulf him. The Hurricanes retained the ball, but a wayward pass by prop Neemia Tialata bounced off centre Conrad Smith for Hewat to snatch and sprint 90m to score.

It was one of several missed chances by the Hurricanes, who created more opportunities than they had in several of the recent games combined.

The Waratahs also had chances to score more tries, but they, too, were let down by poor passing and handling.

- NZPA