Hurricanes take down gutsy Rebels in quarter-final

Sat, Jun 8, 2024, 6:08 AM
AAP
by AAP

The Hurricanes have taken down a fierce Melbourne Rebels side 47-20 in Wellington.

The Rebels were brave in their final match as a side, stepping up physically to take an early lead

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However, the Hurricanes are the minor premiers for a reason and caught the Rebels before and after the break to extend their lead.

Jordie Barrett was the chief destroyer as he pieced the Rebels' defence apart with four straight tries.

A double for Lachie Anderson got the Rebels back in the game but the Hurricanes kicked away to secure the win.

Melbourne threw everything at the Hurricanes early on, and unsettled the home side with their rushing defence.

They became the first team this season to stop the Hurricanes scoring a try in the opening 20 minutes, twice holding the home side up over the line with some desperate defence.

But the Rebels' 3-0 lead evaporated four minutes later when prop Pasilio Tosi barrelled over the line.

Another Rebels penalty closed the gap to 7-6, but twice Carter Gordon failed to find touch with clearing kicks and the Hurricanes went into halftime up 14-6, with centre Joshua Moorby finding a hole to score in the 39th minute.

The Wellington men also struck first in the second half, with All Black centre Jordie Barrett slipping out of a Rob Leota tackle before finding No.8 Brayden Iose.

Two more tries within three minutes meant there was a mountain to climb for the Rebels, with the lead out to 35-6 after 57 minutes.

Anderson finally opened the Rebels' try-scoring account in the 65th minute when he ran on to an off-load from his skipper Leota.

He was in again two minutes later after a charging run by reserve Melbourne back-rower Vaiolini Ekuasi.

Two late Hurricanes tries, scored by reserves Du'Plessis Kirifi and Kini Naholo, meant the scoreline blew out, with their team marching on to next week's semi-finals.

HURRICANES 49

Tries: Tosi, Moorby, Iose, Aumua, Flanders, Kirifi, Naholo

Cons: Cameron 7/7

REBELS 20

Tries: Anderson 2

Cons: Gordon 2/2

Pens: Gordon 2/2

HURRICANES v MELBOURNE REBELS TEAMS

HURRICANES (1-15): Xavier Numia, Asafo Aumua, Pasilio Tosi, Justin Sangster, Isaia Walker-Leawere, Devan Flanders, Peter Lakai, Brayden Iose, TJ Perenara, Brett Cameron, Salesi Rayasi, Jordie Barrett (c), Billy Proctor, Josh Moorby, Harry Godfrey

RESERVES: James O'Reilly, Pouri Rakete-Stones, Tevita Mafileo, Brad Shields, Du'Plessis Kirifi, Richard Judd, Bailyn Sullivan, Kini Naholo

REBELS (1-15): Isaac Kailea, Jordan Uelese, Taniela Tupou, Angelo Smith, Josh Canham, Josh Kemeny, Brad Wilkin, Rob Leota (c), Ryan Louwrens, Carter Gordon, Darby Lancaster, David Feiluai, Filipo Daugunu, Lachie Anderson, Andrew Kellaway

RESERVES: Alex Mafi, Matt Gibbon, Sam Talakai, Tuaina Taii Tualima, Maciu Nabolakasi, Vaiolini Ekuasi, James Tuttle, Nick Jooste

Referee: James Doleman

Assistant Referees: Jono Bredin, Fraser Hannon

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