Hurricanes beat Chiefs in final pre-season hitout

Flanker Karl Lowe snatched a late intercept try to hand the Hurricanes a 17-12 win over the Chiefs in both teams’ final Super 14 pre-season rugby match at Rotorua on Friday.

In hot, hard conditions, Lowe’s 70m try made the difference after the Chiefs had turned around a 10-7 halftime deficit through a try to stand-in captain Sione Lauaki.

The Hurricanes’ first-half lead was built around unconverted tries to outside back Tamati Ellison and flanker Scott Waldrom while flanker Tanerau Latimer snared the Chiefs’ lone first-half score.

Neither team appeared to suffer any serious injury concerns.

The result completed a perfect pre-season for the Hurricanes, who have also beaten the Blues and ACT Brumbies in trial matches and now open the Super 14 next Friday against the Blues in Auckland.

Conversely, the Chiefs are win-less, having also suffered narrow losses to the Highlanders and Blues.

They leave on Sunday ahead of their opening match against the Sharks in Durban.

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