Match Centre: Hurricanes 21-14 Highlanders

Hurricanes 21-14 Highlanders, Sky Stadium

Hurricanes have registered their first victory in the ongoing Super Rugby Pacific competition as they edged out Highlanders 21-14 at Sky Stadium on Saturday.

Hurricanes now have four points in two games as they are eighth position in the table while Highlanders are languishing at the bottom after losing both their matches.

In what was a very dry first half as the only points before the break came from Pouri Rakete-Stones as he ran 25m unopposed to get his first Super Rugby try in the 12th minute and Jordie Barrett kicked the conversion to make it 7-0.

After almost 40 minutes without a point, the home side doubled their tally as Billy Proctor scored in the 50th minute before Highlanders responded back with a touchdown from Manaaki Selby-Rickit and Marty Banks kicked the conversion to make the scoreline 14-7.

Logan Henry provided relief for Hurricanes after his try was set up by Peter Umaga-Jensen with 10 minutes left in the game with their lead proving enough despite Josh Dickson dotting down in the 75th minute.

Highlanders captain Mitch Hunt expressed disappointment over the result and rued their inability to finish the game on a high.

"That seems to be our killer," captain Mitch Hunt said.

"We're creating plenty, the foundations are there but it's the small nails holding things up that are not quite right.

"We need to be able to finish."

Hurricanes' next game will be against Moana Pasifika on 12th March at Sky Stadium while Highlanders will be locking horns with Blues on 11th March.

Team News:

Hurricanes XV: 15 Jordie Barrett, 14 Julian Savea, 13 Bailyn Sullivan 12 Billy Proctor, 11 Salesi Rayasi, 10 Ruben Love, 9 Jamie Booth, 8 Ardie Savea, 7 Du’Plessis Kirifi, 6 Reed Prinsep, 5 Caleb Delany, 4 James Blackwell, 3 Tyrel Lomax, 2 Asafo Aumua, 1 Pouri Rakete-Stones.

Reserves: 16 Siua Maile, 17 Xavier Numia, 18 Tevita Mafileo, 19 Devan Flanders, 20 Brayden Iose, 21 Richard Judd, 22 Jackson Garden-Bachop, 23 Peter Umaga Jensen

Highlanders XV: 15 Connor Garden-Bachop 14: Sam Gilbert 13: Fetuli Paea 12: Thomas Umaga-Jensen 11: Liam Coombes-Fabling 10: Mitchell Hunt 9: Folau Fakatava 8: Gareth Evans 7: James Lentjes 6: Shannon Frizell 5: Josh Dickson 4: Bryn Evans 3: Jermaine Ainsley 2: Liam Coltman 1: Ethan de Groot

Reserves: 16 Rhys Marshall, 17 Dan Lienert-Brown, 18 Saula Mau, 19 Manaaki Selby-Rickitt, 20 Marino Mikaele-Tu’u, 21 Aaron Smith, 22 Marty Banks, 23 Scott Gregory.