Nonu double sinks Chiefs

The Hurricanes kept their Super 14 play-off hopes alive with a last-gasp bonus-point victory over the Chiefs at the Westpac Stadium.

New Zealand international Ma'a Nonu struck twice for the hosts and prop Neemia Tialata crossed in the dying seconds to clinch a crucial 33-27 victory.

The five points gained ensures Colin Cooper's men remain in the semi-final shake-up with just two games of their regular season remaining.

The injury-hit Chiefs will be rueing what might have been after they relinquished a 24-15 half-time lead given to them through first-half tries from Jackson Willison, Sona Taumalolo, Tim Nanai-Williams and Liam Messam.

Pressure

With the Crusaders and Waratahs losing earlier in the round, the Hurricanes took to the Westpac Stadium turf knowing they had the perfect opportunity to get themselves right back in the play-off hunt.

After taking an early lead with an Aaron Cruden penalty the home side handed the Chiefs the initiative when they failed to gather the restart.

Although Victor Vito stole the ball back for the 'Canes, a fumble by Cruden was pounced on by Willison who raced in under the posts to score against the run of play and Callum Bruce slammed over the conversion.

Another turnover halted another promising build-up for the Hurricanes who attacked the Chiefs hard around the fringes.

But the territorial advantage and pressure finally brought some reward when Cory Jane got across the line after another sharp line-break by Nonu and good support play from Karl Lowe. The ball went wide from a ruck and Jane crossed. Cruden, though, failed with the extras.

But for the next 10 minutes it was all the Chiefs as they probed around the fringes with Messam and Colin Bourke making good ground.

A fine break by Bruce provided the spark for Taumalolo's 19th minute try as the first-five slipped the tackle of Cruden before being brought down by Nonu just five metres short.

The ball was spun wide to the prop out on the left wing and he forced his way over despite the desperate tackles of John Schwalger, Bryn Evans and Andrew Hore.

Dramatic

Bruce was off target with the conversion and he also failed to convert Nanai-Williams' effort six minutes later when the livewire full-back showed superb footwork to beat Nonu, Hore and Schwalger and Jane to score.

Messam's bonus-point try came from a mistake off the back of the Hurricanes scrum deep in their own half when he intercepted Rodney So'oialo's intended pass to Tyson Keats and raced away to score.

Bruce's conversion stretched the Chiefs' lead to 24-8 but a late surge by the Hurricanes, which culminated in Nonu barging his way over for a converted score, meant the visitors led by nine points at the break.

The opening 20 minutes of the second half was scrappy with both sides guilty of giving away too many penalties.

Aside from a 43rd minute effort by Cruden and a 53rd minute three-pointer by Bruce, the goal-kickers were unable to take advantage, with Colin Bourke and Hurricanes replacement half-back Piri Weepu both sending straightforward attempts wide.

The Chiefs eventually paid the price for their persistent infringing at the breakdown when substitute loose forward Luke Braid was sent to the sin-bin just minutes after coming on to the field. Weepu made no mistake with this penalty and the Hurricanes trailed by just six points with 18 minutes to go.

The match, though, was won in the dramatic final five minutes as Nonu rampaged his way over for his second try before Tialata's score at the death got his team the much needed bonus point.