Hurricanes fly high as Crusaders flop again

JORDIE Barrett bagged two tries as the Hurricanes thumped the Melbourne Rebels 54-28 to maintain their 100 per cent record at the top of the table.

- BEN JAYCOCK

Hurricanes outThe scored the Rebels eight tries to four with winger Salesi Rayasi scoring two of the Hurricanes' five first-half tries, the pick of which was Barrett's first on his return from suspension after his red card against the Reds at the start of March.

Hurricanes captain Brad Shields won the ball at the back of the lineout and popped a pass inside to No.9 TJ Perenara who put Barrett over.

"It was good to be back.

We had a massive challenge, the Rebels are a good side and it was a tough night," Barrett said.

"It's a great start, but it's about being consistent every week," he added after the Hurricanes remained the only unbeaten side left in the competition.

They made 14 changes from the side which won away at defending champions the Crusaders last weekend but made an explosive start.

Barrett scored his second when he finished off a superb flowing attack as the Hurricanes chalked up 50 points. Fly-half Aidan Morgan landed all eight conversions before the Rebels touched down their fourth try late on through hooker Jordan Uelese.

The Blues beat the Crusaders for the first time in 10 years with a 26-6 victory consigning the seven-in-arow champions to a stunning fifth defeat on the trot to the season.