AUCKLAND (Reuters) - Lock Mark Abbott scored his second try of the match with seven minutes remaining to give the Wellington Hurricanes a 28-24 victory over the Auckland Blues in a scrappy, error-ridden game at Eden Park on Saturday. Abbott, inside centre Ngani Laumape and flyhalf Beauden Barrett crossed in the first half for the visitors while fullback Jordie Barrett slotted four conversions. While Hurricanes coach Chris Boyd might be pleased with the win, he will be concerned around his flyhalf's disciplinary record after Barrett received a first half yellow card for a deliberate knockdown while on defence. The 25-year-old was sent off last week against the Waratahs after he received two yellow cards for the same offence. Barrett, however, had demonstrated how important he was to the Hurricanes attack, setting up first-half tries for Abbot and Laumape, with his pace getting him behind the Blues defence.

Source: The Star April 15, 2017 09:22 UTC