CLARK Laidlaw's unbeaten Hurricanes continued to solidify themselves at the top of Super Rugby Pacific with an impressive 3623 victory over Kiwi rivals, the Chiefs.
Captained by former England international Brad Shields, the Hurricanes secured their seventh victory in a row to build a five-point lead on the Blues in second place.
TJ Perenara moved level as the most prolific try-scorer in Super Rugby history as the 32-year-old veteran All Black touched down for a brace of tries to take his tally to 62 scores.
It is the same figure as his former Hurricanes team-mate Julian Savea, who scored a try on Friday for the victorious Moana Pasifika against the Queensland Reds.
Wet conditions didn't slow the home side, going 10-0 up in the first quarter after Perenara bagged his opening try.
Impressive loose forward Brayden Iose crossed to put his team 17-7 ahead but the Chiefs dominated the middle section of the game, scoring 16 unanswered points.
With his team trailing by six, Perenara's second try sparked a storming Hurricanes finish, including five-pointers to winger Kini Naholo and powerhouse hooker Asafo Aumua.
Hurricanes skipper Shields said his team's depth swung the contest their way in the closing stages.
"It's not often you can roll a bench on that changes a game like that," he said. "Each week now, our impact players are taking our game to another level."
Cortez Ratima and Emoni Narawa crossed for the Chiefs while flyhalf Damian McKenzie landed 13 points with the boot.
This story is from the April 14, 2024 edition of The Rugby Paper.
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This story is from the April 14, 2024 edition of The Rugby Paper.
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