Hurricanes rugby: Ten individual scoring feats

Above: TJ Perenara, who scored a memorable hat-trick on starting debut against the Force in 2012, seen here celebrating a great try last year by Jeremy Thrush against the Kings.

As the countdown to the rugby season continues, here’s a look at ten notable scoring feats by individuals in Investec Super Rugby.

Hurricanes v Force 2012: TJ Perenara 3 tries

Andrew Hore led the charge of the hookers in 2006 by becoming the first forward in Super Rugby to score a hat trick of tries in the Hurricanes’ 35-10 over the Chiefs. Hore’s three tries - fittingly in his 50th Super Rugby match - helped propel the Hurricanes towards the 2006 semi-finals and eventually on to the final against the Crusaders. Hore revelled in slippery conditions at Westpac Stadium in this clash and came out on top of a forwards dominated battle, scoring his first try as the Hurricanes led 16-3 at halftime and then bursting over the line from close range twice in the second to seal victory. In all Hore scored 19 tries for the Hurricanes, easily the most by a Hurricanes forward.

Hurricanes v Brumbies 2005: Ma’a Nonu 3 tries

Ma’a Nonu was at his earth-shaking best when the Hurricanes met the Brumbies at Westpac Stadium in 2005, scoring a decisive hat trick in an entertaining 49-37 win. Nonu’s hat trick came in the second half after a tense and seesawing match in which scores were locked up at 20-20 after almost 50 minutes. But Nonu lit the fuse, scoring his first try off the shoulder of flanker Chris Masoe and then running like a freight train to score solo tries in the 59th and 62nd minutes and leaving the Brumbies decidedly rattled. With the game in the bag, Nonu was subbed off with 10 minutes remaining, watching from the sideline as the Hurricanes scored twice more before the final whistle.

Hurricanes v Highlanders 2001: David Holwell 30 points

First five-eighth David Holwell single-handedly won a thriller for the Hurricanes in their match against the Highlanders in Napier in 2001, scoring 30 points in a 35-33 win. Holwell’s haul was a record for a New Zealander in the Super 12, although short of the 50 points that Gavin Lawless amassed for the Sharks in 1997 - also against the Highlanders. Holwell scored his points through a try, two conversions and seven penalties as the Hurricanes held off a fast finishing Highlanders to win by two after halfback Jason Spice was sinbinned with five minutes left on the clock. With Spice taking an early shower the southerners scored two late tries and Holwell’s opposite, Tony Brown, rather ironically missed a last-gasp conversion which would have tied the scores up. Howell went on to score 676 points in 76 matches for the Hurricanes.

Hurricanes v Sharks 2000: Jonah Lomu 2 tries

Superstar Jonah Lomu made his much-anticipated Hurricanes debut in an equally expected match at the start of 2000 at the all-new Wellington Stadium. The 2000 season marked the opening of the Stadium and with it the Hurricanes secured a gladiatorial performer in Lomu to help fill it. It was fitting then that the big winger marked his arrival at the new venue with two tries as the Hurricanes overran the Sharks 40-23. It took 13 minutes for Lomu to crash over for this first try after a chip and chase and powerful bust and he followed up with his second just after halftime. Fullback Christian Cullen also grabbed a brace in a memorable match.

Hurricanes v Reds 2000: Tana Umaga 3 tries

Tana Umaga is the only Hurricanes player to have scored three hat-tricks in Super Rugby, having crossed the tryline twice in 1997 against the Bulls in New Plymouth and the Highlanders in Wellington and again three seasons later in this match against the Reds, also in New Plymouth. His three tries in this encounter proved the difference in a high scoring 43-25 win over the Queenslanders, scoring his first two in injury time in the first half as the Hurricanes extended a 19-13 lead to a 33-13 advantage at the turnaround. Umaga, on the wing, then sealed the outcome with his third after combining superbly with fullback Christian Cullen all game, Cullen also scoring one of the Hurricanes’ five tries in total. Umaga went on to score 47 tries in his 122 appearances between 1996-2007.

Hurricanes v Crusaders 1999, Christian Cullen 2 tries

Christian Cullen’s 56 tries in 85 matches is a clear Hurricanes record, and two of the teams he had the most success against were also two of those the Hurricanes found the toughest to beat during his time - the Brumbies and the Crusaders. He scored more tries (eight) against the former, but it was against the latter Crusaders franchise that he often reserved his best for. He scored one hat trick (see below) and 13 doubles in his career, a tally that included three consecutive braces in matches against the Crusaders between 1999-2001. His two tries against them in 1999 were particularly important strikes, helping the Hurricanes to secure an 18-18 draw against the defending champions. He scored his first try right after halftime to close the scoreline to 11-13 and later ran on to a kick ahead for his second try and replacement first five-eighth Mal Arnold converted from the sideline to grab the draw.?

Hurricanes v Blues 1998: Jason O’Halloran 3 tries

Of all the hat tricks scored by Hurricanes players in Super Rugby, midfielder Jason O’Halloran’s against the Blues in 1998 was the only one as part of a losing cause. The Hurricanes arrived at Athletic Park for their final game of the season with little to play for but pride, after a promising start to their campaign that had seen them win their opening three games but then drop away. Sitting eighth with five wins and five losses little was expected against the Blues who were playing for a home semi-final. Two first half tries to future Hurricane Jonah Lomu put the Aucklanders ahead 31-15 at halftime, O’Halloran scoring his first try off a Tana Umaga break. The Hurricanes saved their best until last, winning the second half and O’Halloran scoring two more tries to end his season on a high.

Hurricanes v Free State 1997: Christian Cullen 3 tries

Christian Cullen was the star as the Hurricanes whipped up a storm in beating Free State 59-30 in their first match back in New Zealand after their three-week overseas tour of South Africa and Australia. Athletic Park’s new turnstiles swelled to breaking point prior to kick-off in accommodating a 32,000-strong crowd and many were still taking their seats when the elusive then Manawatu fullback flashed in for this first try in the 8th minute off an Alama Ieremia kick. Cullen capitalised on his forwards’ dominance to score another try in the 25th minute and took a long pass from flanker Martin Leslie to add his third on the hour. Cullen scored 11 tries in 10 matches for the Hurricanes in 1997 and went on to score 16 in 13 internationals for the All Blacks later that year. This was also the Hurricanes’ first win in Wellington after two losses there the year before.

?

?

For the record here are the individual scoring records in Super Rugby (source Sanzarrugby.com):

• Most points in a match - 50, Gavin Lawless, Sharks v Highlanders (1997)
  
• Most penalties in a match - 8, Jannie Kruger, Willie Walker, Meyer Bosman, Derick Hougaard
  
• Most conversions in a match - 13, Andrew Mehrtens, Crusaders v Waratahs (2002)
  
• Most dropped goals in a match - 4, Morn? Steyn, Bulls v Crusaders (2009)
  
• Most tries in a match - 4, Joe Roff, Brumbies (1996) Gavin Lawless, Sharks (1996) Stefan Terblanche, Sharks (1998) Joeli Vidiri, Blues (2000) Doug Howlett, Blues (2002) Malili Muliaina, Blues (2002) Caleb Ralph, Crusaders (2002) Sitiveni Sivivatu, Chiefs (2009)

Want to contribute to this website? Club Rugby welcomes new writers and contributors. Opinion articles, match and competition previews and reports, interview articles, videos for our video channel (coming soon). For more Email editor@clubrugby.co.nz

?