Super Rugby Round 3

We take a look at Round 3 of Super Rugby and round up the action from all the weekend's fixtures.

Holloway hat-trick can't halt Highlanders

Last year's Super Rugby champions the Highlanders held off a late Waratahs comeback and a Jed Holloway hat-trick to win 30-26 in Sydney.

Ryan Tongia opened the scoring in the 10th minute and Lima Sopoaga converted and added a penalty soon after to put Highlanders into an early 10-0 lead - and by half-time Liam Squire and Elliot Dixon had also crossed to give their side a comfortable advantage.

Dixon scored again early in the second half and Sopoaga's drop goal made it 30-0. Holloway led the fightback and fellow replacement Tom Robertson also touched down but it was not enough as the Highlanders clung on.

Coles on song as Hurricanes blow away Western Force

Captain Dane Coles scored a try on his return from injury as the Hurricanes recorded a 41-6 victory over Western Force.

Coles, making his first appearance of the season, got the only try of the first half as Hurricanes went in at the break with a 10-3 lead.

Hurricanes flew out of the blocks in the second half, with James Marshall, TJ Perenara, Blade Thomson, Ngani Laumape and Ardie Savea all touching down in the second half.

Crusaders crush the Kings in eight-try showing

Spectators at the AMI Stadium were treated to 11 tries as the Crusaders crushed the Kings 57-24.

The home side ran in eight of those five-pointers in a dominant showing, posting their second win of the season in the process.

Nemani Nadolo (two), Johnny McNicholl, Ben Funnell, Richie Mo'unga, Mitchell Drummond, Jone Macilai-Tori and Jimmy Tupou all crossed the line, with Mo'unga tagging on 11 points with the boot and Ben Volavola six.

Luzuko Vulindlu, Edgard Marutlulle and Chris Cloete scored the Kings' tries.

Rebels too strong for Sunwolves in four-try win

The Rebels took away a bonus-point 35-9 win from a fine road trip to the Sunwolves on Saturday.

Jordy Reid, Ben Meehan, Tom English and Sean McMahon all crossed the line, with Jack Debreczeni kicking 13 points and Daniel Hawkins two.

The Sunwolves had little answer, leading only for nine minutes after Tusi Pisi's second-minute penalty, with the same man booting over two more.

Ihaia West salvages draw for Blues with last-minute penalty against Reds

The Reds and Blues played out a thrilling 25-25 draw on Saturday, with Ihaia West the hero for the away side.

The Blues trailed by three points when West punted a penalty three minutes into time added on, following on from his own try and other scores from Bryn Hall and Billy Guyton.

West ended with 15 points as the game's stand-out performer, helping his side to the draw after scores from Chris Feauai-Sautia, Samu Kerevi and Jake McIntyre had put the Reds in front.

Elton Jantjies spurs Lions to Super Rugby victory over Cheetahs

Elton Jantjies was instrumental as the Lions defeated the Cheetahs 39-22 in Johannesburg.

The goal-kicking number 10 scored the first try of the Super Rugby match and played a part as Faf de Klerk and Howard Mnisi crossed the line. Jantjies scored 14 of his side's first-half points as they went into half-time with a 24-3 lead and finished with 17 points in all.

Neil Marais' penalty was the Cheetahs' only score of the first period but they did deny their hosts a bonus-point victory as Tian Meyer and Jacques du Toit went over for late tries. Ruan Ackermann and replacement Corne Fourie scored the Lions' other tries.

Brumbies fall to first defeat at Stormers

The Stormers inflicted a first defeat of the season on the Brumbies with a feisty 31-11 success at Newlands.

The visitors had to play the final 15 minutes with 14 men after replacement hooker Josh Mann-Rea was shown a straight red card after TV replays showed him swinging punches at Oli Kebble.

The Stormers deservedly led 9-5 at the interval, although the Brumbies scored the only try of the first half through Henry Speight.

Siya Kolisi, Dillyn Leyds and Vincent Koch went over for the Stormers in the second period leaving the Sharks, the South Africa group leaders, as the only unbeaten team left in the competition.

Saturday's Super Rugby action saw wins for Melbourne Rebels, and the Crusaders whilst the Blues and Reds battled to a 25-25 draw.

Melbourne continue Sunwolves' search for first win

In Tokyo, the Melbourne Rebels condemned the Japanese Superwolves to their fourth consecutive defeat with a bonus-point 35-9 win.

Jordy Reid, Ben Meehan, Tom English and Sean McMahon all crossed the line, with Jack Debreczeni kicking 13 points and Daniel Hawkins a further two in a rout that continued the Japanese's wait for a first Super Rugby win.

The Sunwolves had little answer, leading only for nine minutes after Tusi Pisi's second-minute penalty, with the same man later booting over two more.

Eleven try Crusaders dispatch Southern Kings

Spectators at the AMI Stadium meanwhile were treated to 11 tries as the Crusaders crushed the Kings 57-24.

The home side ran in eight of those five-pointers in a dominant showing in Christchurch, posting their second win of the season in the process.

Nemani Nadolo (two), Johnny McNicholl, Ben Funnell, Richie Mo'unga, Mitchell Drummond, Jone Macilai-Tori and Jimmy Tupou all crossed the line, with Mo'unga tagging on 11 points with the boot and Ben Volavola six.

Luzuko Vulindlu, Edgard Marutlulle and Chris Cloete touched down in reply for the Kings.

Reds and Blues battle to a stalemate at the SunCorp

Across the Tasman Sea in Queensland the Reds and Blues played out a thrilling 25-25 draw on Saturday, with Ihaia West emerging as the hero for the away side.

The Blues trailed by three points when West punted a penalty three minutes into time added on, following on from his own try and other scores from Bryn Hall and Billy Guyton.

West ended with 15 points as the game's stand-out performer, helping his side to the draw after scores from Chris Feauai-Sautia, Samu Kerevi and Jake McIntyre had put the Reds in front.