Hurricanes survive fightback to regain Super Rugby top spot

Wellington Hurricanes regained top spot in the Super Rugby table with a hard-fought 32-24 home win over Moana Pasifika on Friday.

Both sides finished with four tries in Wellington after the visitors staged an impressive fightback from 19-0 down.

"That was a crazy game, we're happy to get through that one," said Hurricanes captain Brad Shields.

"When you let Moana get up a bit of steam and energy they are a difficult team to handle, but I am proud of the way the boys stuck at it."

The Auckland Blues can retake first place in the table if they beat the Otago Highlanders at home on Saturday.

Smarting from their last-gasp defeat at the Blues last Saturday, the Hurricanes made 11 changes but flew out of the traps at Sky Stadium by bagging three quick tries.

Hooker Raymond Tuputupu powered his way over early from the back of the maul.

Prop Siale Lauaki and scrum-half Richard Judd then ran in counter-attack tries from misjudged Moana kicks as the hosts built a comfortable lead.

The momentum shifted midway through the first half as Moana prop forwards Samiuela Moli and Abraham Pole both crashed over for tries. Moana went into the break only 19-12 down.

The Hurricanes lead was further trimmed when winger Fine Inisi crossed out wide from a long pass.

Hurricanes replacement flanker Peter Lakai grabbed a converted try from a charged down kick and flyhalf Aidan Morgan landed a penalty as the hosts reopened a 29-17 lead with 20 minutes to go.

Moana fought back again as forward Alamanda Motuga twisted his way over for a converted try after a quick tap.

Morgan landed a late penalty for the Hurricanes to wrap up the scoring.

"We'll have to tighten our screws a bit coming into the next game," Shields said as the Hurricanes take on the Waikato Chiefs next Friday in Hamilton.

The defeat leaves Moana in 10th, three points outside the playoff spots with two games left.

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