Hurricanes end Moana Pasifika's fairytale season

1News

2 days ago

Moana Pasifika's fairytale season has come to an abrupt end at the hands of the Hurricanes.
Needing a bonus-point win to progress to the playoffs for the first time, the task proved too tall for Moana, who fell to a ruthless 'Canes outfit 64-12 on Saturday.
The home side were clinical across the park, running in 10 tries at the 'Caketin' to send Moana Pasifika crashing out of the competition, while keeping the Blues' faint hopes of a title defence alive.
Ardie Savea did not have a happy homecoming in his first return to the region since his move to Moana Pasifika. Despite his best efforts, with several trademark turnovers and a try, Moana barely fired a shot in their final outing of the season.
Things started positively for the visitors, with Solomon Alaimalo plucking an intercept and linking with Semisi Tupou Ta'eiloa to score under the sticks.
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That would be as good as it got in the first 40 for Moana, who conceded four tries before the break, including two individual stunners.
First, Devan Flanders took a wide ball on the wing and sent an audacious chip over the top, gathering the perfect bounce and strolling over.
Then, just on the break, Peter Umaga-Jensen took a wayward clearing kick on halfway and sliced Moana Pasifika open, shrugging off several would-be tacklers on his way to a brilliant solo try.
The Hurricanes continued to pour on the points after oranges, Umaga-Jensen with another jinking run, powering past two tacklers to bag his brace.
Replacement front rowers Raymond Tuputupu and Pouri Rakete-Stones both barged their way over the chalk to extend the advantage, with Matt Proctor showing his class, as he weaved around the defence to put his side into the 50s.
Former Moana Pasifika halfback Ere Enari sneaked his way over from the base to rub more salt in the wound, while debutant Tjay Clarke closed things out with a 10th Hurricanes try.