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Matches: Hurricanes 22 - 18 Chiefs

The Hurricanes have secured a club record with their 11th win of the season in a fast and physical battle against North Islander rivals the Chiefs. A controversial call in the final minutes saw a match winning try denied for the Chiefs, and despite keeping the Hurricanes pinned onto their line for the final minute, weren't able to end the Hurricanes five game winning run.

All but wrapping up a home play-off, the Hurricanes extended their lead at the top of the New Zealand conference to 13 points over the second-placed Chiefs, Ma'a Nonu scoring in each half to reach the 50-try mark in Super Rugby. Surviving a frantic final five minutes, which included a disallowed try to Augustine Pulu and an attacking Chiefs scrum five metres out in the last play of the game.

It took Nonu, playing his 50th Super Rugby match in tandem with Conrad Smith, just nine minutes to put the Hurricanes on the board. They worked their way downfield efficiently with smart recycling, until Nonu found himself one-on-one with rookie five-eighth Damien McKenzie and powered straight through to touch down between the posts.

The combination between McKenzie and under-20 star Anton Lienert-Brown, in for an injured Sonny Bill Williams, looked shaky early on but grew in confidence as the match progressed. McKenzie's defence around the fringes tightened up, and he played a key role in the Chiefs' first try of the match in the last minute before half-time.

Front-foot ball from a solid scrum gave the visitors some momentum, McKenzie attacking the Hurricanes line before slipping an inside pass to Bryce Heem, who found centre Charlie Ngatai on his shoulder in perfect position to score. So despite a makeshift look to their forward pack after losing both locks before halftime, the Chiefs took a 13-10 lead into the break.

The absence of Michael Fitzgerald and Michael Allardice proved costly shortly after the restart. The Hurricanes worked an attacking lineout into a rolling maul which rumbled to within a couple of metres before Ardie Savea crashed over.

Down to 14 men after Liam Squire was binned for a dangerous tackle on Nonu in the 48th minute, the Chiefs were given a reprieve when Nonu lost the ball over the line a minute later. The 94-Test All Black made amends in the 67th minute, snaffling a perfectly time intercept try to give the Hurricanes a more comfortable 22-13 lead. But with seven minutes remaining, Sam Cane barrelled over to bring the Chiefs within a try of the win.

The Hurricanes celebrate Ardie Savea's try © Getty Images

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