Without the dramatics associated with the weekend's other Super Rugby Aotearoa game, the Hurricanes claimed a 17-11 win over the Highlanders at SKY Stadium in Wellington on Sunday.
Too many errors were conceded by both sides for either camp to be happy with their performance. The Highlanders had most riding on the game as they looked to keep themselves in the competition hunt. That now seems less likely at the halfway stage.
The Hurricanes could have given the game away during the last quarter with some sloppy passing reducing their chances to score more tries. They enjoyed dominance of possession in the half but were only able to score the one try.
In the first few minutes, both sides suffered the loss of tries as the result of obstructions ruled earlier in movements. The first was when first five-eighths Mitch Hunt took advantage of a gap to race through and feed halfback Aaron Smith over only to have it ruled out. Then Hurricanes second five-eighths Ngani Laumape had a try ruled out after his first five-eighths Fletcher Smith ran around behind a player who prevented defenders getting at him.
It was a welcome demonstration that obstructions are being taken more seriously than has been the case for several seasons. If referees took similar action against forwards standing in backlines and deliberately blocking defending players then there might be opportunities for flowing play as well.
Another case for obstruction could easily have denied Hurricanes halfback TJ Perenara his 27th minute try when in the breakdown, Highlanders hooker Ash Dixon was taken out of play by prop Tyrell Lomax. Lomax held Dixon and was held and unable to fill a gap that Perenara sliced through on his run to the line. But it didn't even warrant a second look. Playing the man without the ball remains a largely unpunished offence.
There was little doubt about the 35th minute try to wing Kobus van Wyk which came after No.8 Ardie Savea broke on the blind from a midfield scrum to link with Laumape who made a strong run before going to ground.
From the ruck the ball was moved back to the right and a long pass to van Wyk gave him an easy run to the line.
Eight minutes into the second half, the Hurricanes sealed the deal with a deserved try to blindside flanker Devan Flanders who had been among the action in the loose all game. Also playing a key hand in the try was hooker Asafo Aumua who offered plenty during the game as he made the most of a starting role.
The Highlanders did keep themselves in the hunt when some good work from a lineout maul between Dixon and Smith resulted in Aumua being sucked into the maul and leaving a two on one situation which the experienced hands didn't miss as the margin was closed to 17-8.
A penalty goal to Hunt with seconds remaining gave the Highlanders a last chance but it was fitting that their inability to secure a key lineout throw stymied their chance and the Hurricanes were able to kick the ball out to end the game.
Scorers: Hurricanes 17 (TJ Perenara, Kobus van Wyk, Devan Flanders tries; Jordie Barrett con.) Highlanders 11 (Aaron Smith try; Mitchell Hunt 2 pen). HT: 12-0
The teams were:
Hurricanes: 1.Ben May (replaced by Pouri Rakete-Stones, 65min), 2.Asafo Aumua (replaced by Ricky Riccitelli, 67mins), 3.Tyrel Lomax (replaced by Alex Fidow, 68mins), 4.James Blackwell replaced by Vaea Fifita, 58mins), 5.Scott Scrafton, 6.Devan Flanders (replaced by Murphy Taramai, 74min), 7.Du'Plessis Kirifi, 8.Ardie Savea, 9.TJ Perenara (captain) replaced by Jamie Booth, 65min), 10.Fletcher Smith (replaced by Jamie Booth, 65min), 11.Ben Lam, 12.Ngani Laumape, 13.Vince Aso (replaced by Billy Proctor, 72min), 14.Kobus van Wyk (replaced by Wes Goosen, 68min), 15.Jordie Barrett.
Highlanders: 1.Ayden Johnstone (replaced by Daniel Lienert-Brown, 49min), 2.Ash Dixon (captain – replaced by Liam Coltman, 63mins), 3.Siate Tokolahi (replaced by Jeff Thwaites, 63min) , 4.Pari Pari Parkinson (replaced by Jesse Parete, 67min), 5.Jack Whetton (replaced by Maanaki Selby-Ricket, 49mins), 6.Shannon Frizell, 7.Dillon Hunt (replaced by Teariki Ben-Nicholas 49min), 8.Marino Mikaele Tu'u, 9.Aaron Smith (captain – replaced by Kayne Hammington 71mins)), 10.Mitch Hunt, 11.Jona Nareki, 12.Patelesio Tomkinson, 13.Rob Thompson, 14.Scott Gregory, 15.Michael Collins (replaced by Bryn Gatland, 71min).
Referee: Brendon Pickerill