Highlanders beat Hurricanes 38-21 to end Super Rugby Aotearoa on high

Highlanders 38-21 Hurricanes, Forsyth Barr Stadium
Scorecard

Highlanders came up with an impressive performance as they went on to beat Hurricanes 38-21 in the final game of the Super Rugby Aotearoa competition at Forsyth Barr Stadium on Saturday.

This is Highlanders' third win from eight games as they finished the tournament fourth with 14 points while Hurricanes end at third with 21 points.

Hurricanes started the proceedings with a fifth minute try after Jordie Barrett and Jamie Booth combined to send Vince Aso over the line with the fullback kicking the conversion.

However, their efforts were negated by Ngatungane Punivai after Mitch Hunt and Josh Ioane did well in the build up. Ioane kicked the conversion as both the teams finished levelled 7-7 in the opening 10 minutes.

The Hurricanes seized back the lead once again with this time Booth dotting down in the 29th minute but Dixon's response in the 33rd minute saw the teams finished the first half with a 14-14 scoreline.

Highlanders were quick to get off the block in the second half with Michael Collins gathering a pass from Jona Nareki to dot down in the 46th minute and Ioane kicked a conversion and a penalty on either side to make it 24-14.

Hurricanes suffered a major setback when Ardie Savea was yellow carded in the 57th minute that also resulted in a penalty try for Highlanders to make it 31-14 and shortly Hunt's converted try stretched their lead to 24 points.

Peter Umaga-Jensen scored a try for the visitors with seven minutes left in the game but the effort went in vain as Highlanders completed a 17 point victory.