Hurricanes hold off Chiefs

Hurricanes withstood a late onslaught to claim a thrilling 29-26 victory over the Chiefs at Westpac Stadium.

The home side were outscored by three tries to two but some superb goal-kicking from Aaron Cruden and Daniel Kirkpatrick got them across the line.

Cruden converted prop John Schwalger's first half-try and slotted three penalties before being replaced by Kirkpatrick, who added the extras to Tyson Keats' crucial score in the 64th minute before nailing two more penalties.

The Chiefs, who were leading 18-10 early in the second half, threatened to claim a dramatic late win when full-back Tim Nanai-Williams dotted down in the corner in the final two minutes, however Hurricanes held on.

Crisp

It took 22 minutes before the first points were scored but the Chiefs could have broke the deadlock as early as the opening minute after lock Jason Eaton made a mess of the kick-off.

But wing Lelia Masaga was hauled down just short and the attack broke down when Tana Umaga, playing at his former home for the first time since 2007, fumbled his first touch.

For the opening score, the Chiefs initially tried a drive from a five-metre lineout but Eaton stole the ball only for wing Andre Taylor's partially charged clearance to land in the hands of Masaga.

The ball was moved inside to Stephen Donald and he ran hard at Cruden before stretching out to ground the ball under the posts. He then calmly slotted the extras.

But the Hurricanes responded immediately with a Cruden penalty when flanker Tanerau Latimer was caught for obstruction at the kick-off.

The home side's opening score followed moments later when lock James Broadhurst was held up just short but Schwalger picked the ball up from the ruck and dived over.

Cruden added the extras and the Hurricanes had turned a seven point deficit into a three point lead.

It was short-lived though and two Donald penalties in the latter stages of the first half meant the Chiefs went into the second period leading 13-10.

Impact

That quickly became 18-10 when former Hurricane Scott Waldrom scored the Chiefs' second try.

The flanker sparked the attack with a steal at the breakdown and he finished it off after the ball had passed through the hands of No.8 Liam Messam, wing Sitiveni Sivivatu and Umaga.

Donald could not add the conversion but Cruden made no mistake with two penalties at the other end to close the gap to two points.

Hurricanes replacements Keats and Kirkpatrick made an immediate impact as the latter coolly converted the half-back's neat try.

A Kirkpatrick penalty edged the home side eight points clear, and he and Joe Delany traded further penalties to keep Chiefs at arms' length.

The match still hung in the balance though and when Nanai-Williams scored a try in the corner with less than two minutes to go, Hurricanes nerves were jangling.

But Delany missed the conversion and the Hurricanes held on for a vital win.