Rugby: Gear hat-trick inspires Hurricanes' onslaught

Rodney So'oialo of the Hurricanes is tackled by Will Gena and Quade Cooper of the Reds. Photo / Getty Images

Winger Hosea Gear put his name in the All Blacks mix as the Hurricanes moved within touching distance of the Super 14 rugby playoffs with a stunning 44-21 defeat of the Reds here tonight.

Gear bagged a hat-trick in a hectic spectacle at Westpac Stadium as the home side racked up 31 unanswered points in the second half to celebrate veteran No 8 Rodney So'oialo's 100th Super rugby match.

The Hurricanes scored six tries to three and returning halfback Piri Weepu kicked six from eight as they launched a now-familiar second-half onslaught.

Their fourth consecutive victory, achieved with a crucial bonus point, launched them past the Reds into temporary third on the ladder and they could remain in the top-four by weekend's end if two of the Crusaders, Brumbies or next weekend's opponents the Waratahs stumble.

For the Reds it was back-to-back defeats after a stunning mid-season run, and the Queenslanders appear less and less likely to make their first semifinal appearance in nine years unless other results go their way next weekend when they face the Highlanders.

The Reds led 21-13 at halftime but the turning point came when Reds flanker Andrew Shaw was sinbinned by referee Bryce Lawrence in the 42nd minute for an apparent spear tackle on Weepu.

With their set piece giving a powerful platform, the Hurricanes scored twice in that 10-minute period and added another soon afterwards to seize the match at 34-21 up with still 20 minutes left.

Gear punished Reds centre Will Chambers for a handling error under his own posts to slide over in the corner, then fellow winger Tamati Ellison, in his farewell to Wellington before taking up a contract in Japan, ran 40m after nice leadup work from outstanding fullback Cory Jane who helped spark the hosts.

Gear had his hat-trick in the 59th minute when Aaron Cruden and Ma'a Nonu, whose combination struggled in the first half, linked up to carve through the Reds' midfield.

``We played in the right areas when they had a man down and we were in their half the whole time. We got some good tries and that's what the crowd and the whole Hurricanes set-up has been waiting for all year is a performance like that. Hopefully we can take that to Sydney next weekend,' captain Andrew Hore told Sky Sport.

Both teams went in with significant injuries; the Hurricanes without late withdrawals Conrad Smith (concussion) and Victor Vito (calf) while the Reds were shorn of All Blacks World Cup hopeful Daniel Braid (knee) and last week's starting locks Adam Byrnes (knee) and Rob Simmons (facial fracture).

The hosts started swiftly when Gear tiptoed down the sideline to set up All Black Jane for the opening try, after the Reds got on the wrong side of Lawrence several times at the breakdown.

But someone flicked a switch and the visitors stunned the Hurricanes with three tries in 11 minutes to race to a 21-8 lead. High-octane Reds attack, with Quade Cooper attacking the line, was met by sluggish defence as the game was busted open.

Captain Will Genia darted through to set up impressive flanker Scott Higginbotham; winger Rod Davies scorched clear for their second before departing with a hamstring injury, then former Melbourne Storm back Chambers won the race to the ball from a Cooper kick after the Reds found more holes in the Hurricanes' midfield.

The Hurricanes needed some inspiration to get back in it, and Jane provided it when he beat three defenders down the left and combined again with Gear to score on the stroke of halftime and cut the deficit to eight.

Hurricanes 44 (Hosea Gear 3, Cory Jane, Tamati Ellison, David Smith tries; Piri Weepu 2 pen, 4 con) Reds 21 (Scott Higginbotham, Rod Davies, Will Chambers tries; Quade Cooper 3 con). Halftime: 13-21.

- NZPA