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Super Rugby round seven

(Reuters) - Highlights from round seven of Super Rugby: REDS 28 HIGHLANDERS 27 The Reds picked up their first win of the campaign as they held of a second half fightback from the champion Highlanders to edge home at Lang Park. Liam Gill, Nick Frisby and Samu Kerevi scored first half tries as the Reds led 28-6 after 50 minutes but Aaron Smith, Malakai Fekitoa and Lima Sopoaga crossed for the Highlanders as they almost completed a remarkable comeback. HURRICANES 40 JAGUARES 22 Bruising winger Julian Savea scored a hat-trick of tries as the Hurricanes made it four straight wins with a bonus point victory over the slumping Jaguares. Flyhalf Beauden Barrett also crossed for a try and kicked 10 points as the Argentine outfit lost their fourth straight contest. STORMERS 46 SUNWOLVES 19 South Africa's Stormers ran in seven tries for a bonus point victory in a dominant performance against an enthusiastic but outgunned Sunwolves from Japan at Newlands on Friday. Flank Sikhumbuzo Notshe scored two tries as the hosts dominated the collision areas and had too much pace for the visitors. The Sunwolves battled to the end and crossed the line three times, with South Africa-born fullback Riaan Viljoen scoring twice. The Asian side had lock Tim Bond red-carded with 10 minutes to go for a dangerous tackle. FORCE 19 CRUSADERS 20 Loose forward Jordan Taufua notched the winning try two minutes from time as the sloppy Crusaders finally made one of their chances count against Australia's Western Force to secure a fifth victory in a row. Taufua barged over from close range for the New Zealand team to add to earlier scores for scrumhalf Mitchell Drummond and wing Johnny McNicholl. All of the Force points were scored by their South African-born connection as scrumhalf Ryan Louwrens grabbed a try and flyhalf Peter Grant kicked four penalties and a conversion. CHIEFS 29 BLUES 23 Chiefs flyhalf Aaron Cruden continued to cement his credentials for the All Blacks number 10 jersey as he orchestrated a 29-23 victory over the Blues. Cruden, prop Mitchell Graham, wing Shaun Stevenson, centre Seta Tamanivalu and lock Brodie Retallick all scored tries for the Chiefs, while fullback Damian McKenzie slotted two conversions. Fullback Melani Nanai and wing Rieko Ioane scored quick-fire tries early in the second half to give the Blues a surprising 20-10 advantage before the Chiefs fought back. Blues flyhalf Ihaia West added three penalties and two conversions. (Compiled by Greg Stutchbury, Nick Said and Patrick Johnston.; Editing by Amlan Chakraborty)