Hurricanes up to second in Super 14 log

The Wellington Hurricanes ground out a 21-10 win over Perth-based Western Force today to climb to second in the Super 14 rugby table.

The Hurricanes dominated possession in miserable conditions in Wellington but a stubborn Force defence held them to two tries. The win was enough to put them above the NSW Waratahs and almost certainly assure them of a semifinal berth, while at the same time ending the Force's slim finals hopes. Captain Rodney So'oialo said he had not been thinking about a bonus point until late in the game, especially with the conditions. Teams earn a bonus point by scoring four tries.

"Our main focus was just to come away with the win," he said. "Obviously when we got a lot of points ahead of the Force we tried to get the bonus point, but unfortunately we couldn't get it."
The Hurricanes were on top from the start and went ahead early with a Piri Weepu penalty. They took full advantage of their territorial superiority when hooker Andrew Hore crashed over near the posts for a 10-0 lead after just 12 minutes.

After missing two relatively straightforward penalties, Force fly-half Matt Giteau finally got his side on the scoreboard after the Hurricanes backs were caught offside, but that was to be the visitors' only joy of the half. Force were soon on the back foot after the re-start when Weepu kicked another two penalties, the second of which saw flanker David Pocock yellow carded for persistent offending. With Pocock absent, Hosea Gear crossed in the corner to put the game beyond the visitors' reach. Force fullback Cameron Shepherd restored some pride with a fine individual try five minutes from the end. - Reuters