Perenara tops try list as 'Canes march on

TJ PERENARA became the all-time top Super Rugby try scorer as his table topping Hurricanes demolished the Waratahs.

- BEN JAYCOCK

All Blacks scrum-half Perenara scored after the siren to round off a 41-12 victory and move clear atop of the competition’s try standings with 63.

Hurricanes’ unbeaten start to the season came to an end last weekend when they lost in Canberra to the Brumbies. They fielded a much-changed team on Friday – and were forced to call on their fourthstring hooker Kianu Kereru-Symes after a series of injuries – but made an emphatic return to form, scoring four tries through Billy Proctor, Brett Cameron, Josh Moorby and Brandon Iose to lead 26-0 after 27 minutes.

They added a fifth try on the hour mark through replacement winger Salesi Rayasi, and Rayasi scored again in the 70th minute. Between tries he left the field to receive treatment for a dislocated finger.

The Waratahs scored late tries to Vuate Karawalevu and Hugh Sinclair.

Hurricanes remain a point clear of the Auckland-based Blues atop the Super Rugby standings and captain Billy Proctor said: “Bouncing back from last week was pleasing. We came out and started the game really strong which was what we wanted.”

Winger Tim Ryan scored two tries to lift his tally to five in his last two matches as the Queensland Reds beat the Crusaders 33-28.

Ryan scored three tries last week in the Reds’ 41-34 loss to the Blues and added a double as the Reds came out on top against the defending champions.