The Roar
The Roar

Advertisement

Highlights: Hurricanes pump Lions 20-3 to win 2016 Super Rugby title

6th August, 2016
Advertisement
Vaea Fifita of the Hurricanes. (AAP Image/SNPA, Ross Setford)
Editor
6th August, 2016
175
4913 Reads

The Hurricanes have beaten the Lions 20-3 to win their first ever Super Rugby championship in a thrilling final.

» Re-live all the action with our live blog

A Beauden Barrett masterclass robbed the Lions in their first Super Rugby final as the young flyhalf took home 15 of the Hurricanes’ 20 points to guide his side to victory.

A rain-affected match up in Wellington got off to a blinding start for the home side when winger Corey Jane crossed the line for the Hurricanes inside the first ten minutes.

Excitement quickly turned to heartbreak though when the TMO denied him the five-pointer for a knock on two phases back in field – a decision not appreciated by the home fans.

An incredibly tight defensive effort for the Canes were on the back foot from then on as the Lions looked to snag an early lead, dominating the early possession and field position.

The Lions would become their own worst enemy though, coughing up some very loose all work at the back to gift Jane redemption and the first try of the match 22 minutes in.

A penalty goal for each side capped off the scoring for the opening forty minutes, with the Canes taking a 10-3 lead into the break.

Advertisement

The second half began much the same way the first ended, as the Lions continued to push towards the Canes line, looking to break a Hurricanes defence that had gone 250+ minutes without conceding a try.

The Canes found the going tough in the early parts of the second stanza, but as frustration set in for the Lions and the rain continued to make life difficult for the halves, the tides began to change.

Another penalty goal and a Barrett try in the 70th minute were the final nails in the coffin of season 2016.

A valiant effort from the Lions who really held their own in very tough conditions on foreign soil, holding onto a superior possession and field position count right up to the final whistle.

It was simply their execution in side the enemy half that hurt them in the end as the relentless Canes wall of yellow and black refused to let them through.

close