KEY POINTS:
Thomas Waldrom could not have timed his first Super 14 rugby try better, plunging over in the corner to inflict more last-minute heartache on the Brumbies as the Hurricanes stole a 11-10 victory in Wellington tonight.
Two weeks after Saimone Taumoepeau and Isa Nacewa combined to nick an
injury-time 17-15 victory for the Blues in Canberra, the bullocking No 8 justified the Hurricanes' second half dominance when he stretched out to place the ball inches inside the corner flag after a jinking step by David Smith and smart offload by Hayden Hopgood.
It was just reward. The Hurricanes spent 13 minutes inside the Brumbies 22-metre zone after halftime but were consistently thwarted by some desperate defence, personified when Clyde Rathbone managed to dislodge the ball from Neemia Tialata as the All Blacks prop surged over the chalk from a lineout drive in the 62nd minute.
The Hurricanes also threatened when forcing a scrum turn over two minutes later but in keeping with their largely error-prone efforts on attack a promising move from undone by a ruck infringement.
When Julian Huxley made ground from the relieving penalty and then goaled his second three-pointer to push the Brumbies out to a 10-6 advantage the Hurricanes looked at risk of failing to capitalise on a glut of possession -- just as the Brumbies had erred in the first half.
The Brumbies, inspired by the needless sinbinning of Ma'a Nonu, were rarely in danger in a opening stanza which showcased moments of their trademark ability to recycle possession during sweeping movements.
They broke a two-match try-scoring drought in the 17th minute, albeit with some help after Nonu was yellow carded by South African Craig Joubert for a swinging head lock on Clyde Rathbone who had taken exception to Tana Umaga's push on Julian Huxley as he fielded a bomb.
Nonu waded in without justification in the 13th minute scuffle and was sat uncomfortably on the exercise bike when the Brumbies transferred the ball through eight pairs of hands before rangy lock Adam Wallace-Harrison burst through a midfield gap the All Blacks utility could have been expected to plug.
Flanker Julian Salvi and Wallace-Harrison both handled twice before the second rower scored the Brumbies' first five-pointer since the 21-15 defeat of the Chiefs in Hamilton in round one.
Nonu was fortunate his indiscretion was not penalised further after a touch judge call ruled out an other sweeping try to Mark Gerrard after the last pass from Jeremy Paul was ruled marginally forward.
The Brumbies also suffered some misfortune on the injury front with influential pivot Stephen Larkham failing to take the field in the second half after suffering a heavy knock to the ribs.
Hurricanes captain Tana Umaga was another casualty, retreating early in the second half with a strained Achilles.
The Hurricanes third victory of the season vaulted them to provisional leaders on 13 points -- one ahead of the inactive Sharks, while the Brumbies temporarily improved to third on 10 points.
Hurricanes 11 (Thomas Waldrom try; Jimmy Gopperth 2 pen)
Brumbies 10 (Adam Wallace-Harrison try; Julian Huxley con).
Halftime: 3-7
- NZPA
