Hurricanes storm in despite triple yellow
The Rugby Paper|April 21, 2024
HURRICANES overcame a poor second half in which they conceded three yellow cards to beat Fijian Drua 38-15 and stretch their winning start to eight matches to end their opponent’s unbeaten record at home.
BEN JAYCOCK
Hurricanes storm in despite triple yellow

Clark Laidlaw’s table toppers were impressive in the first half, scoring four tries to lead 28-7.

However, in the second half they spent almost 10 minutes with 13 men when DuPlessis Kirifi (high tackle) and Isaia Walker-Leawere (persistent infringing) were sin-binned.

Replacement prop Caleb Delany also saw yellow for the same offence as Walker-Leawere two minutes before full time.

Drua were unable to get into the game in the first half because of errors, turnovers and penalties. That situation was reversed after half-time as the Hurricanes, tiring in the heat, couldn’t hold onto possession and were heavily penalised, though their defence mostly held firm.

Drua reduced the Hurricanes’ lead with a try to scrum-half Kitione Salawa early in the second half but they were only able to score three points – a Kemu Valetini penalty – when the Hurricanes were two men down.

Hurricanes opened the scoring with a try after seven minutes by centre Billy Proctor from a speculative in-field kick from Salesi Rayasi.

Drua quickly hit back through young fly-half Isikeli Rabitu to draw level but the Hurricanes opened a 21-point lead by half-time with tries from back rower Devon Flanders, centre Jordie Barrett and hooker James O’Reilly.

This story is from the April 21, 2024 edition of The Rugby Paper.

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This story is from the April 21, 2024 edition of The Rugby Paper.

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