Hurricanes storm in despite triple yellow

HURRICANES overcame a poor second half in which they conceded three yellow cards to beat Fijian Drua 38-15 and stretch their winning start to eight matches to end their opponent’s unbeaten record at home.

- BEN JAYCOCK

Clark Laidlaw’s table toppers were impressive in the first half, scoring four tries to lead 28-7.

However, in the second half they spent almost 10 minutes with 13 men when DuPlessis Kirifi (high tackle) and Isaia Walker-Leawere (persistent infringing) were sin-binned.

Replacement prop Caleb Delany also saw yellow for the same offence as Walker-Leawere two minutes before full time.

Drua were unable to get into the game in the first half because of errors, turnovers and penalties. That situation was reversed after half-time as the Hurricanes, tiring in the heat, couldn’t hold onto possession and were heavily penalised, though their defence mostly held firm.

Drua reduced the Hurricanes’ lead with a try to scrum-half Kitione Salawa early in the second half but they were only able to score three points – a Kemu Valetini penalty – when the Hurricanes were two men down.

Hurricanes opened the scoring with a try after seven minutes by centre Billy Proctor from a speculative in-field kick from Salesi Rayasi.

Drua quickly hit back through young fly-half Isikeli Rabitu to draw level but the Hurricanes opened a 21-point lead by half-time with tries from back rower Devon Flanders, centre Jordie Barrett and hooker James O’Reilly.