Match Centre: Super Rugby Pacific: Hurricanes 36-23 Chiefs

Hurricanes 36-23 Chiefs, Sky Stadium

TJ Perenara went into the record books as Hurricanes defeated Chiefs 36-23 in the latest round of the Super Rugby Pacific at Sky Stadium on Saturday.

Perenara now has 62 tries to his name as he levels with former All Black Julian Savea for the most tries scored in the history of Super Rugby.

This is seventh win for Hurricanes in as many games as they consolidated their position at the top while Chiefs are at fifth place with 23 points.

Hurricanes had early breakthrough as Reuben O'Neill was penalised for collapsing and Brett Cameron kicked a three-pointer in the 6th minute to start the proceedings. He nevertheless missed a second penalty chance in the 12th minute as the score remained at 3-0.

They managed to extend the lead though with Perenara scoring at the back of a scrum for the first of his two tries and Cameron followed it with the conversion before the Chiefs responded back with Rameka Poihipi sending an inside pass for Cortez Ratima to touchdown and Damian McKenzie's conversion meant the gap came down to three points.

The 27th minute saw Chiefs reduced to 14 players temporarily with Emoni Narawa sin-binned for offside at the ruck and the hosts made full use of the numerical advantage with Brayden Iose collecting the ball at the base of a ruck to touchdown and Cameron improved it to make it 17-7.

Just at the stroke of half time McKenzie kicked back to back penalties to ensure the deficit came down to four points for Chiefs at the end of the opening half.

McKenzie with his third penalty goal in the 47th minute made it a one point game before the Chiefs went into the lead as Emoni Narawa dotted down and McKenzie's conversion made it 17-23. The decisive moment came in the 58th minute when Naholo and Moorby combined to send Perenara over for the record try.

Any chance of a Chiefs comeback was put off with Naholo and Asafo Aumua scoring back to back tries in the 68th and 72nd minutes respectively as Canes maintained their perfect run in the competition.

Team line up:

Hurricanes XV: Xavier Numia, Asafo Aumua, Tyrel Lomax, Caleb Delany, Isaia Walker-Leawere, Brad Shields (c), Peter Lakai, Brayden Iose, TJ Perenara, Brett Cameron, Kini Naholo, Jordie Barrett, Billy Proctor, Josh Moorby, Ruben Love

Reserves: James O'Reilly, Pouri Rakete-Stones, Pasilio Tosi, Justin Sangster, Du'Plessis Kirifi, Devan Flanders, Richard Judd, Peter Umaga-Jensen

Chiefs XV: Aidan Ross, Samisoni Taukei'aho, Reuben O'Neill, Naitoa Ah Kuoi, Tupou Vaa'i, Samipeni Finau, Luke Jacobson (c), Wallace Sititi, Cortez Ratima, Damian McKenzie, Etene Nanai Seturo, Anton Lienert-Brown, Daniel Rona, Emoni Narawa, Shaun Stevenson

Reserves: Bradley Slater, Ollie Norris, George Dyer, Jimmy Tupou, Kaylum Boshier, Xavier Roe, Josh Ioane, Rameka Poihipi