Hurricanes blow past Chiefs 35–17 with Sullivan's four-try blitz

The Hurricanes roared back from a halftime deficit to secure a stunning 35–17 win over the Chiefs at Sky Stadium, powered by a phenomenal four-try performance from winger Bailyn Sullivan.

The result not only reversed a sluggish start but also secured a critical bonus-point victory in Round 12 of Super Rugby Pacific.

The Hurricanes struck first, with Ruben Love calmly slotting three penalties in the opening 20 minutes to give the home side a 9–0 lead. The early possession and territory statistics favored the Hurricanes, but they failed to convert opportunities into tries.

The Chiefs responded with intent. Midway through the half, centre Daniel Rona intercepted a loose pass and sprinted 50 meters to score under the posts, shifting momentum decisively.

He wasn't done yet—ten minutes later, Rona was again on the scoresheet after a sharp attacking move, and two successful conversions put the Chiefs in control at 17–9 going into halftime.

If the first half belonged to the Chiefs, the second was owned entirely by Bailyn Sullivan. Introduced off the bench, the explosive winger flipped the script with four tries in the space of 27 minutes—each one showcasing a different element of his dynamic skill set.

His first try came just five minutes into the second half, finishing off a break he started himself with a powerful midfield burst. Minutes later, he latched onto a crisp inside ball from Cam Roigard and glided through the defence for his second. The crowd at Sky Stadium erupted.

With the momentum firmly on their side, the Hurricanes piled on pressure. A perfectly placed cross-field kick by Ruben Love found Sullivan in space, and he gathered cleanly to complete his hat-trick with a flourish.

His fourth was the icing on the cake—a desperate chase after a clever grubber kick from Riley Higgins saw him dive over the line again, leaving the Chiefs stunned.

While Sullivan's heroics stole the show, the Hurricanes’ defence played an equally vital role. They kept the Chiefs scoreless in the second half, shutting down multiple attacking waves and forcing crucial turnovers.