Cruden boot sinks Highlanders

The Hurricanes kept their slim Super 14 play-off hopes alive after edging out the Highlanders 33-31 in Dunedin on Saturday.

The teams could not be separated on tries, each touching down five times in a highly entertaining encounter at Carisbrook.

In the end it was Hurricanes fly-half Aaron Cruden's four conversions to Israel Dagg's three that proved the decisive factor in the contest.

Eight of the 10 tries came in a frenetic first half as both sides sought to attack at every opportunity.

Openside flanker Karl Lowe marked his return to the Hurricanes' starting XV after illness with the opening try in the fifth minute.

Cruden first opened up the Highlanders defence before Lowe finished the move, going over close to the posts after collecting Conrad Smith's expert offload in the tackle.

Desperate

The Highlanders then took full advantage of a perfect counter-attacking opportunity following a turnover by Hurricanes wing Tamati Ellison.

Steven Setephano fed Jimmy Cowan the try-scoring pass and Dagg added the conversion to level the scores.

But the Hurricanes hit back immediately when the Highlanders failed to gather the re-start, Michael Paterson barging over from close range after collecting a neat back pass from Tyson Keats.

Another Hurricanes turnover, though, saw the scores tied again at 12 apiece when Alando Soakai crossed at the other end despite a desperate last-ditch tackle by Cruden.

Keats raced in close to the posts in the 23rd minute and Cruden was again on target with the conversion to give his side the advantage

And that kick proved to be crucial when Dagg failed to convert after Ben Smith went over for the Hurricanes in the 29th minute.

Cruden and Highlanders hooker Jason Rutledge then traded converted tries to bring the first half to a close.

Missed chances

Cruden missed two straightforward penalty attempts after the restart and Smith went close in the 64th minute, only to be hauled down by Hurricanes winger Hosea Gear five metres short of the line.

Hurricanes loose forward Victor Vito crossed from a strong run off the back of the scrum but was held up over the line.

Centre Ma'a Nonu made no mistake a minute later though when he collected from another strong Hurricanes scrum and ran over the top of Robbie Robinson to score by the posts, with Cruden slotting the extras.

However the Highlanders had the final say, securing a second bonus point through replacement prop Bronson Murray on 82 minutes, Dagg's conversion bringing matters to a close.