In an impressive display, Bailyn Sullivan emerged as the star of the match, scoring four second-half tries after coming off the bench to help the Hurricanes secure a 35-17 victory over the Chiefs, the Super Rugby Pacific leaders. The match saw the Hurricanes rally from a 17-9 deficit at halftime, delivering a stunning second-half performance to secure the win and reinforce their position in the top six.
The Chiefs took the initial lead, aided by centre Dona Rona, who notched two first-half tries, one of which featured an impressive 50-metre intercept. Despite this, the Hurricanes, led by Ruben Love’s three penalties, managed to stay competitive during the first half.
The turning point came when the Hurricanes lost left winger Kini Naholo early in the match due to a serious knee injury. Josh Jacomb’s penalty and Rona’s intercept try had the Chiefs leading by eight points at the break.
However, the second half belonged entirely to Sullivan, who scored his four tries in a rapid 27-minute span. His hat-trick was highlighted by a brilliant cross kick from Love, allowing Sullivan to touch down in the corner. He capped his scoring performance by winning a race for a well-placed kick from Riley Higgins.
Love played a pivotal role as well, contributing 15 points through successful kicks and setting up Sullivan’s standout try. Despite the loss, the Chiefs remain the competition leaders, while the Hurricanes are buoyed by back-to-back victories that have solidified their standing.
Looking ahead, the Chiefs face the Crusaders in a crucial top-of-the-table clash next Saturday, while the Hurricanes will enjoy a bye before their next match against the Highlanders on May 16.