Hurricanes shake the Sharks
March 15, 2002

The Hurricanes showed their rarely used defensive skills to score a morale-boosting 40-17 win against the Sharks in Wellington.

Although the Hurricanes held a commanding 27-3 lead at half-time courtesy of two tries in the five minutes before the break, it was a mighty defensive passage 10 minutes into second-half that really put the Sharks out of the game.

The Sharks came within inches of the Hurricanes line several times on the back of a series of penalty taps, but couldn't break through. Had the Sharks scored then it might have given them a sniff of a comeback. But they eventually lost the ball over the line for the Hurricanes to break out and centre Tana Umaga to clear the ball downfield and ease the tremendous pressure.

The Sharks did manage to cross for their first try after 63 minutes to reduce the lead to 33-10, but the margin was always too great. But as it was, the Hurricanes weren't to be denied their fourth try and bonus point when centre Pita Alatini scored with eight minutes remaining.

Defence is something not often associated with the Hurricanes, but on this occasion it has provided the side with a timely boost when its Super 12 campaign was looking decidedly shaky after two losses and a win in the opening three games.

For 2001 finalists Sharks, they failed to show the same intensity that pushed the Brumbies last week and after four consecutive losses must contend with the Waratahs next round in Sydney to save their season.

In a scrappy first half, unfortunately dominated by the referee's whistle, the Hurricanes crossed for three tries much to the delight of fans who must have doubted their side's credentials after the opening 60-7 loss to the Blues.

Flanker Kupu Vanisi, playing his 50th Super 12 game, crossed for the opening try in the eighth minute, but the game rarely flowed from that point with continual stoppages.

The game started to open up for the Hurricanes after 30 minutes as the Sharks defence looked fragile for the first time. The Hurricanes went over for their second try in the 35th minute when halfback Jason Spice finished off a perfectly executed set move with Umaga. And three minutes later, fullback Christian Cullen pounced on the loose ball 30m out to toe ahead twice before having it bounce into his hands to crash over.

Jonah Lomu saw little action in both halves and his failure to maintain possession when taking the ball into the breakdown must be a concern for Hurricanes officials.

The two tries put the Hurricanes ahead 27-3 and two penalty conversions to David Holwell after half-time gave the home side a comfortable 33-3 buffer before the Sharks mounted their challenge in the second-half.

The Sharks scored a final consolation try in the 75th minute as Hurricanes lock Paul Tito trudged off with a yellow card for continual infringing on his side's try line, but it was all too late.

Scoreboard

HURRICANES 40
Tries: Vanisi, Spice, Cullen, Alatini.
Conversions: Holwell 3, Flutey; Holwell 4 pen.

SHARKS 17
Tries: Davidson, Smit tries.
Kruger, du Toit; Kruger pen goal.

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