Two draws at Rugby League Park on Saturday

There were two draws involving Hurricanes teams at Rugby League Park in Wellington on Saturday, and almost a third in the first match of two at Wellington Stadium.

The Huricanes U20s were first up on the day and scrambled to a 31-31 draw with the Crusaders U20s.

The Crusaders U20s led 31-10 after 55 minutes and had the game seemingly under control.

Both sides emptied their benches and the Hurricanes got a second wind and came back to score in the corner through captain and openside Cooper Flanders. Replacement first-five Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula slotted the sideline conversion to close the gap to 31-17. The Hurricanes scored two more converted tries over the final 10 minutes to lock it up to 31-31, the final score.

The Super Rugby U20s tournament in Taupo runs from 16-25 March.

Scoring highlights of that match below in association with Rob Law Max:

In the second match at Rugby League Park, the Hurricanes Hunters As and the Blues As drew 33-33.

The Hunters bounced back from their 47-14 loss to their Cusaders teammates last week with a much more assured performance.

Scoring was tit-for-tat throughout, but when right wing Dan Sinkinson injected himself into the backline following a penalty and lineout drive in the corner to score on the far side the Hurricanes led 19-12 at halftime.

The Blues replied with a try to halfback Lisati Milo-Harris to make it 19-19, Hurricanes fullback Ezra Malo scored next to put his side ahead 26-19, the Blues replied off a lineout to hooker Soane Vikena to see it go to 26-26, hometown No. 8 Sione Halililo scored off a scrum to see the Hurricanes go 33-26 up, while the Blues scored the equaliser through replacement Tamaru McGahan with just a couple of minutes to play.

There was high drama on fulltime, with the Blues breaking out through second five and first half try-scorer Corey Evans. He fed his outside support runner with the tryline beckoning but the pass was dropped and the Hurricanes held on for a draw.

Later at the Stadium, the Hurricanes Poua were level pegging with the Blues Women at 22-22 and a third draw was imminent.

But the Blues broke the pattern in the 79th minute by scoring the winning try and winning 29-22.

The Hurricanes men’s team came back from 22-5 down at halftime to close the deficit to 22-19, but the Blues kicked a late penalty to finish 25-19 ahead.