26/04/2008 17:07

Kimberley - The Hurricanes ran in six tries to score an emphatic 38-10 victory over the Cheetahs on Saturday to move into fifth place on the Super 14 log.

The visitors led 21-10 at the interval.

Playing on the rock-hard field of Kimberley, a small diamond mining town in the Northern Cape and the second home of the Cheetahs, the Hurricanes were unstoppable in keeping alive their hopes of reaching the southern hemisphere interprovincial competition's playoffs.

The New Zealanders now have 31 log points after 10 games and six wins, while the Cheetahs remain in second last place after suffering their ninth defeat of the season.

While the home side were the first to register a score, via a penalty by Conrad Barnard, it was the men from New Zealand who dominated the first period.

They won plenty of ball, and with the Cheetahs missing too many tackles to be a factor, they scored three first half tries through Jason Eaton, Rodney So'oialo and Ma'a Nonu.

Eaton was the first to breach the Cheetahs' line when he broke through two tackles after the home side had lost their own lineout throw and then just two minutes later it was the turn of Rodney So'oialo, who intercepted a Juan Smith pass to gallop in from well over 50 metres.

Piri Weepu converted both tries to give the visitors a comfortable 14-3 lead.

The Cheetahs though, despite their inefficiencies in defence, asked some questions of the Hurricanes and they were rewarded on 24 minutes when speedy winger Jongi Nokwe rounded off.

But, the Hurricanes, who controlled matters far better than their opponents, finished the first 40 minutes the far stronger outfit and they scored their third try, by Ma'a Nonu, after another elementary error by the Cheetahs.

Prop CJ van der Linde tried a chip kick over the advancing Hurricanes defenders, just to land the ball straight in the hands of lock Jeremy Thrush, who took the ball up field, for Nonu to finish off.

The Wellington-based side then collected their four-try bonus point almost straight after the restart when Zac Guildford crossed the Cheetahs tryline for his team's fourth try.

While both sides enjoyed a number of other good try-scoring opportunities in the final quarter, it was the visitors who made the most of the ball that came their way.

Fullback Cory Jane got his team's fifth try after collecting a clever chip kick over the Cheetahs backs and then with two minutes remaining Thomas Waldrom dived over, after missing a try-scoring chance moments earlier.

Full-time: Cheetahs 10 Hurricanes 38

Half-time: 10-21

Scorers

Cheetahs: Try - Jongi Nokwe. Penalty - Barnard. Conversion - Barnard

Hurricanes: Tries - Jason Eaton, Rodney So'oialo, Ma'a Nonu, Zac Guildford, Cory Jane, Thomas Waldrom. Conversions - Piri Weepu (3), Willie Ripia.