HIGHLIGHTS-Rugby-Super Rugby week 14

May 20 (Reuters) - Highlights of week 14 of Super Rugby:

JAGUARES 54 BULLS 24

The Jaguares scored seven tries as they rumbled to a 54-24 victory over the Bulls to equal their best return of seven wins in a season and move into second place in the South African conference with a bonus point triumph.

Flyhalf Nicolas Sanchez, who contributed 24 points with a try, five conversions and three penalties, was at the heart of the Argentine side's best moments by setting up tries for wing Bautista Delguy and centre Matias Orlando.

Flanker Marcos Kremer, wing Sebastian Cancelliere and fullback Emiliano Boffelli also went over as the Jaguares strung together some fine passing moves in their fifth consecutive win.

The Bulls had tries through fullback Warrick Gelant early on and replacements Nick de Jager and Andre Warner in the final 10 minutes, both converted by flyhalf Manie Libbok, adding to Handre Pollard's five first half points with the boot.

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Jaguares keep momentum going with Bulls win

Lions beat Brumbies to tighten grip at top

Waratahs down Highlanders to end winless streak

Lam strikes again as Hurricanes outlast Reds

Australians battling 'soft' perception - Cheika

Australia must copy NZ by facing demons

Lock de Jager injured in blow to Boks

Crusaders prop Moody handed two-match ban

Week 13 highlights

Super Rugby fixtures for 2018 season

FACTBOX-Super Rugby at a glance

SHARKS 28 WAIKATO CHIEFS 24

Flyhalf Robert du Preez scored 18 points as South Africa's Sharks kept up their playoff charge with a narrow victory over an injury-hit Waikato Chiefs at King's Park on Saturday.

The Sharks had the majority of the possession and territory, and might have scored more tries but for some poor handling and excellent scrambling defence from the Chiefs. They were, however, almost made to pay at the end of the game.

Du Preez grabbed their first score to go with later tries from wing Lwazi Mvovo and scrumhalf Cameron Wright, but the Chiefs hung in the game with the scores level at 10-10 at the break.

Having made seven changes from their win over the Stormers in Cape Town last week, the visitors struggled in the second period though as their tries came via lock Tyler Ardron and centre Charlie Ngatai, as well as a late effort from wing Solomona Alaimalo to secure a losing bonus-point.

NEW SOUTH WALES WARATAHS 41 OTAGO HIGHLANDERS 12

The Waratahs held their collective nerve to end nearly two years and 40 matches of New Zealand Super Rugby dominance over Australia with a bonus point victory over the short-handed Highlanders on Saturday.

The Highlanders were always up against it after winger Tevita Nabura had been sent off in the 19th minute for kicking Cam Clark in the face, and the visitors had to play with 13 men for 10 minutes in the first half.

The Waratahs, who gave up a 29-0 lead to lose last week, initially made heavy work of it but a brace apiece from Taqele Naiyaravoro and Israel Folau along with tries from Lalakai Foketi and Curtis Rona were enough to snap the streak.

No Australian side had beaten New Zealand opposition in Super Rugby since the Waratahs thrashed the Waikato Chiefs 45-25 on May 27, 2016, a miserable run that sparked a crisis of confidence in the game on the western shore of the Tasman Sea.

AUCKLAND BLUES 24 CANTERBURY CRUSADERS 32

The reigning champions marched back to the top of the Super Rugby standings by building up a big first-half lead before holding off a second-half fightback by the struggling Blues at a rain-drenched Eden Park.

Winger George Bridge, lock Quinten Strange and flanker Matt Todd crossed to help the Crusaders to a 29-12 halftime lead with scrumhalf Bryn Hall adding the fourth try after the break and Richie Mo'unga notching two penalties and three conversions.

All Blacks winger Rieko Ioane scored two tries and made one each for fullback Matt Duffie and replacement Michael Collins but the Blues were always chasing the game.

An eighth straight victory sent the Crusaders a point clear of the Wellington Hurricanes at the top of the competition standings ahead of their clash in Christchurch next week.

SUNWOLVES 26 STORMERS 23

Flyhalf Hayden Parker nailed a drop goal nearly four minutes after the hooter to give the Sunwolves back-to-back victories for the first time as Super Rugby made its Hong Kong debut with a Mong Kok Stadium thriller on Saturday.

The Sunwolves grabbed their first win of the season with a 63-28 thrashing of the Queensland Reds at home in Tokyo last weekend but this was a much tighter affair against the Cape Town-based Stormers.

Two tries from livewire winger Dillyn Leyds and an intercept score from JJ Engelbrecht helped the South Africans to a 17-10 halftime lead with Parker having scored all his side's points through a converted try and a penalty.

Sunwolves lock Grant Hattingh crossed at the end of a sweeping move to lock up the scores after the break and Parker added his second penalty to put his side 20-17 ahead with 17 minutes to play.

Stormers fullback SP Marais landed two huge penalties, the second from five metres inside his own half, to edge the visitors back ahead, though, before the unerring Parker nailed his third three-pointer to set up the dramatic finale.

WELLINGTON HURRICANES 38 QUEENSLAND REDS 34

The Hurricanes struggled to get their high octane attack going but still had just enough to overcome an obdurate Reds side on Friday, outscoring the visitors five tries to four to notch up their 10th straight Super Rugby victory.

Winger Ben Lam nabbed his 13th and 14th tries of the campaign and there were also scores from number eight Blade Thomson, lock Sam Lousi and flyhalf Beauden Barrett, who added 13 points with the boot.

Tries from winger Filipo Daugunu and prop Taniela Tupou helped the Reds to a 20-14 lead after 26 minutes with the other winger, Jordan Petaia, and centre Samu Kerevi crossing after the break to keep them in the match for the full 80 minutes.

The win put the Hurricanes back on top of the standings by three points pending the Canterbury Crusaders' match on Saturday and extends New Zealand's Super Rugby hegemony over Australia to 40 matches.

LIONS 42 ACT BRUMBIES 24

The Lions took command of top spot in the South African Conference with a bonus-point victory over an ill-disciplined ACT Brumbies side at Ellis Park on Saturday.

The visitors had lock Rory Arnold red-carded with 20 minutes remaining for a dangerously high tackle, and lost his fellow second-rower Sam Carter a minute later to the sin-bin.

The Brumbies led by four points at that stage, but could not contain the Lions with their inferior numbers, conceding three tries to slip to defeat in a game they may feel they should have won.

The home side scored tries through centre Rohan Janse van Rensburg, hooker Robbie Coetzee, prop Ruan Dreyer, loose-forward Marnus Schoeman, centre Shaun Reynolds and lock Lourens Erasmus. (Editing by John O'Brien)