KEY POINTS:
Little was expected to separate the Hurricanes from the Blues in Super 14 rugby action tonight and that's precisely how it panned out.
The Hurricanes rode their home crowd support for all it was worth to win the third round match 23-22 at Westpac Stadium in Wellington.
They
owed much to a forward pack which has had serious questions asked of it this season as the Hurricanes strive to overcome to absence of five All Blacks forwards on enforced reconditioning leave.
Their forwards answered the call in ideal conditions tonight, taking everything the Blues threw at them and giving some back in return.
Two star-studded backlines cancelled one another out in a match of fluid movement while the contest at the breakdown narrowly went the Hurricanes' way, influenced to a degree by livewire flanker Serge Lilo, who made a nuisance of himself throughout.
They scored first with fullback Cory Jane crossing for a try in the ninth minute after second five-eighth Ma'a Nonu provided the initial thrust in mifield.
Jimmy Gopperth added the extras then later responded to a Isa Nacewa penalty with one of his own before the Blues drew level at 10-10 in the 20th minute when wing Doug Howlett scored a try after following up a Nacewa stab kick behind the Hurricanes.
It remained that way until three minutes after halftime when Gopperth landed a penalty before the Blues hit the lead for the first time when South African referee Jonathan Kaplan ignored two suspect passes before awarding winger Anthony Tuitavake a try in the 48th minute.
The fortune fell the Hurricanes' way just two minutes later when Lilo appeared to score a try from an offside position after the ball squirted loose from a maul near the line.
The Blues refused to go away and struck back in the 57th minute when lock Greg Rawlinson scored a try after Jerome Kaino charged down an attempted clearance from substitute Tamati Ellison.
Nacewa's conversion saw his side in front again at 22-20 but a 61st-minute penalty from Gopperth, who contributed 13 points via the boot, edged the hosts in front for the final time.
Hurricanes 23 (Cory Jane, Serge Lilo tries; Jimmy Gopperth 3 pen, 2 con) Blues 22 (Doug Howlett, Anthony Tuitavake, Greg Rawlinson tries; Isa Nacewa pen, 2 con). Halftime: 10-10.
- NZPA