KEY POINTS:
Hurricanes 39 Chiefs 32
The Chiefs were left to rue a sackful of lost opportunities - and their skipper - in a dramatic, if error-strewn Super 14 match in Hamilton last night.
Lock Paul Tito's try in the final moments, a 30m sprint to the right corner,
coupled with Jimmy Gopperth's sideline conversion off an upright secured the points for the Hurricanes, leaving their hosts the small consolation of a couple of bonus points.
Jono Gibbes was gone inside the first five minutes with a suspected torn calf muscle. That is grim news for the Chiefs on the eve of their three-game road trip to South Africa.
It was also a grim night for the players who could have gone a long way to sewing up a win in the first half had they not brought their butter fingers onto the park.
"They nailed every chance that came their way. We didn't," hooker Tom Willis said.
The Hurricanes, who deserve credit for running in five tries, showed their counter-attacking skills remain intact and will be delighted with their first win of the campaign. Gopperth was a reliable source of points and there was a growing sense of confidence about their work.
But the Chiefs had a horror night. Even then, they led 11min from the end, only to concede a penalty for Gopperth to level it up at 32-all, then failing to tidy things up in the final minute, allowing Tito to bound away for the decider.
The Chiefs' woes began in the opening minute and, although things improved somewhat in the second half, were still happening late in the match, while the Hurricanes got better as the night wore on.
Where to start. The lineouts were a mess, the handling boo boos were at a rate of 3 to 1 compared to their opponents and they conceded turnovers like millionaires biffing dollar notes into a fire. And let's not forget three bombed tries in the first 13 minutes.
The game featured some impressive tries.
There were strong individual efforts by rival halfbacks Alby Matthewson and Brendon Leonard - both on Super 14 starting debuts and both of whom had industrious nights - and Chiefs No 8 Liam Messam.
Serge Lilo, Roy Kinikinilau and Tom Willis got over courtesy of clever teamwork; while those by Ma'a Nonu, Tana Umaga - who also muffed a regulation grounding for a second try which could have proved decisive - and Tito all stemmed at least partly from Chiefs slip-ups.
When the Chiefs review the tape, they'll be shaking their heads at the early stages which defied belief as they peppered the Hurricanes' defensive line but blew three gilt-edged chances. That failure to turn pressure into points was ultimately crucial.
Sosene Anesi got across in the left corner after fine leadup work by Kinikinilau and Lelia Masaga - two of the best Chiefs - only for Masaga's final pass to be ruled forward; centre Niva Ta'auso knocked on 12m out from an open line; and to cap it off, replacement Kristian Ormsby, with the line unguarded 5m away, spilled the ball.
The riddle of the new scrum laws got no clearer last night, with some collapsing dangerously, and the mantra - crouch, touch, pause, engage - threatens to become the stuff of front row nightmares this season.
Hurricanes: A. Matthewson, S. Lilo, M. Nonu, T. Umaga, P. Tito tries; J. Gopperth 2 pen, 4 con
Chiefs: B. Leonard, L. Messam, R. Kinikinilau, T. Willis tries; S. Donald 2 pen, 3 con. HT: 19-15
