Blues edge Hurricanes to go top

SUPER RUGBY SATURDAY WRAP: Harry Plummer's perfect goal-kicking proved the difference as the Blues beat the Hurricanes 31-27 on Saturday to take over as Super Rugby competition leaders.

A thrilling top-of-the-table match in Auckland was decided after the final hooter as the home side repelled waves of Hurricanes attacks.

Reserve Blues scrumhalf Sam Nock ripped the ball from lock Isaia Walker-Leawere to seal his side's eighth successive win and propelled them two points ahead of their opponents in the standings.

Blues captain Patrick Tuipulotu hoped his team could retain top spot through the remaining three rounds of the regular season.

"Very big result, it was a Test match for us," he said.

"With a couple more games to go until the finals, it puts us in good stead.

"Those are the games you want to be a part of. Very tough and a see-saw battle right down to the wire."

The Blues' only loss this season under new coach Vern Cotter was a 21-29 setback in the third round against the Hurricanes in Wellington.

It was just the second defeat for the Hurricanes, who matched the Blues' four tries but weren't as accurate off the kicking tee as flyhalf Plummer, who landed all five of his shots at goal.

Visiting captain Brad Shields lamented the late omission of his All Blacks prop Tyrel Lomax, lock Caleb Delaney and centre Billy Proctor - all with undisclosed injuries before the match kicked off.

His side fell 5-14 behind after centre Bryce Heem and fullback Cole Forbes crossed for the Blues.

Josh Moorby scored on the stroke of half-time to reduce the margin to five points and they led soon after the interval when outstanding flank Peter Lakai burrowed across the tryline.

All Black wing Mark Tele'a put the Blues back in front and prop Angus Ta'avao extended the lead before veteran Hurricanes scrumhalf TJ Perenara set up a dramatic finish.

Shields was disappointed his side couldn't crack the Blues defence during the tense dying minutes.

"Rugby's pretty cruel. When you get an opportunity at the end and you can't quite get there, it's gutting," Shields said.

"It was very intense, it's exactly what everyone expected."

The scorers:

For Blues:
Tries: Heem, Forbes, Telea, Ta'avao
Cons: Plummer 4
Pen: Plummer

For Hurricanes:
Tries: Shields, Moorby, Lakai, Perenara
Cons: Barrett 2
Pen: Barrett

Yellow card: Akira Ioane (Blues)

Teams:

Blues: 15 Zarn Sullivan, 14 Mark Tele'a, 13 AJ Lam, 12 Bryce Heem, 11 Caleb Clarke, 10 Harry Plummer, 9 Taufa Funaki, 8 Hoskins Sotutu, 7 Dalton Papali'i, 6 Akira Ioane, 5 Sam Darry, 4 Patrick Tuipulotu (captain), 3 Marcel Renata, 2 Ricky Riccitelli, 1 Ofa Tu'ungafasi.
Replacements: 16 Kurt Eklund, 17 Joshua Fusitu'a, 18 Angus Ta'avao, 19 Josh Beehre, 20 Adrian Choat, 21 Sam Nock, 22 Corey Evans, 23 Cole Forbes.

Hurricanes: 15 Ruben Love, 14 Josh Moorby, 13 Billy Proctor, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Kini Naholo, 10 Brett Cameron, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Brayden Iose, 7 Peter Lakai, 6 Brad Shields (captain), 5 Isaia Walker-Leawere, 4 Caleb Delany, 3 Tyrel Lomax, 2 Kianu Kereru-Symes, 1 Xavier Numia.
Replacements: 16 Raymond Tuputupu, 17 Pouri Rakete-Stones, 18 Pasilio Tosi, 19 Justin Sangster, 20 Devan Flanders, 21 Du'Plessis Kirifi, 22 Richard Judd, 23 Bailyn Sullivan.

Referee: James Doleman
Assistant referees: Jono Bredin, Fraser Hannon
TMO: Chris Hart

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