In a very sloppy game the 'Canes took a 14-0 lead after just six minutes and were leading 22-0 after 33 minutes - looking like running away with the game. But for the next 42 minutes no points were scored ... until two late tries advanced the score to 29-5.

It was a strange match. The Hurricanes won it and got a bonus point but most of the match belonged to the Force - in terms of territory and possession.

The Hurricanes helped the Force considerably. They kicked the ball out more often so that the Force threw in to 35 line-outs, the Hurricanes into five. The Hurricanes conceded 15 penalties to the Force's three. The penalty count in the second half was 10-0 against the Hurricanes. Nil!

It was a scruffy match as handling went astray, ball from the tackle/ruck was untidy and option-taking uncertain. The Hurricanes did not look anything like the side that played such a brilliant second half against the Blues. Their only score this time in the second half came five minutes from the end from a wonderful movement of interpassing that went right and finished left with Ma'a Nonu and Thomas Waldrom prominent more than once.

After that the Force scored. The only points in the second half came in the last five minutes of the half. It was a strange match.

The first half was strange. After five minutes the Hurricanes led 14-0 and looked about to blow the Force away. Instead the Force then dominated possession and territory without ever looking like scoring a try. They tried. They even had five line-outs within six metres of the Hurricanes' line and still did not look like scoring. They could have kicked goals but went in search of tries.

Defending the Hurricanes kicked the ball out. In that half the Force threw in from touch 20 times, the Hurricanes three times. David Pusey was their main source of line-out ball.

The Hurricanes' main source of ball was turnovers and it was a turnover which led to their brilliant second try.

Their first try was partly Force created. They threw in skew at a five-metre line-out which gave the Hurricanes a five-metre scrum. The sides had problems with patience in waiting for the engage and this gave the Hurricanes a five-metre free kick. Rodney So'oialo, who is playing with great confidence, tapped and charged. Andrew Hore got the ball and bashed over for the try. Gopperth converted. 7-0 after three minutes.

The Hurricanes then won a turn-over well inside their own half. Quickly they got it wide to their right. Conrad Smith was at his willowy, creative best in sending fullback Isaia Toeava running. He gave Lome Fa'atau free to run in the try. Gopperth converted.

There is a Pyrrhic victory,. This could be considered a Pyrrhic try. Smith drew his man and passed and was tackled. He was taken off on a stretcher in obvious agony. The report during the match was that he had broken both tibia and fibula.

Gopperth kicked a penalty goal and then the Hurricanes scored a strange try.

They threw in at a line-out five metres from the Force's line. They made a hash of the throw in and the ball skidded across the top of the players to where Luke Doherty was standing. Started the Force flank put up his hand and slapped it back to his side. Jason Eaton, the Hurricanes' lock grabbed the ball and fell over for a strange try. Even Eaton was surprised.

That made the score 22-0, which was the half-time score and the score till three minuets before the end of the second half.

The Force came close a few times in the second half when they had two five-metre line-outs and three five-metre scrums. Twice they got over the line but twice So'oialo held them up and denied them the try. When the ball went wide they did not look like being able to score a try.

Late in the game, Nonu., who had had an ordinary game in contrast to his fine performance against the Blues, suddenly burst into life with telling runs. When the Hurricanes got their bonus-point try he was involved three times. He made the burst down the right. He was involved twice going left, till Collins powered ahead and gave to Eaton who scored. That made it 29-0.

There was still time for a penalty which the Force tapped and ran. The ball came back to fly-half Brock James who jabbed a grubber into the Hurricanes' in-goal where Scott Staniforth dabbed the ball down for the try which ended the match.

Man of the Match: Matt Henjak was better for the Force and Digby Ioane outstanding for his unceasing energy and involvement. David Pusey did well in the line-outs because the Force was happy to throw shallow. The Hurricanes spent most of the match defending and our Man of the Match is the defender who stopped two tries and was there to clear for touch when another threatened, played with strength and calm confidence - Rodney So'oialo.

The scores:

For the Hurricanes:
Tries: Hore, Fa'atau, Eaton 2
Cons: Gopperth 2
Pen: Gopperth

For the Western Force:
Try: Staniforth

Teams:

Hurricanes: 15 Isaia Toeava, 14 Lome Fa'atau, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 Hosea Gear, 10 Jimmy Gopperth, 9 Piri Weepu, 8 Rodney So'oialo (captain), 7 Chris Masoe, 6 Jerry Collins, 5 Jason Eaton, 4 Paul Tito, 3 Neemia Tialata, 2 Andrew Hore, 1 John Schwalger.
Replacements: 16 Luke Mahoney, 17 Tim Fairbrother, 18 Luke Andrews, 19 Thomas Waldrom, 20 Brendan Haami, 21 Tamati Ellison, 22 Tane Tu'ipulotu.

Western Force: 15 James Hilgendorf, 14 Cameron Shepherd, 13 Scott Staniforth, 12 Junior Pelesasa, 11 Digby Ioane, 10 Brock James, 9 Matt Henjak, 8 Tim Davidson, 7 Matt Hodgson, 6 Luke Doherty, 5 Nathan Sharpe, 4 David Pusey, 3 David Fitter, 2 Brendan Cannon, 1 Gareth Hardy.
Replacements: 16 Tai McIsaac, 17 David Te Moana, 18 John Welborn, 19 Scott Fava, 20 Chris O'Young, 21 Scott Daruda, 22 Haig Sare, 23 Richard Brown

Referee: Tappe Henning (South Africa)
Touch judges: Willie Roos (South Africa), Jonathon White (New Zealand)
Television match official: Paul Honiss (New Zealand)
Assessor: Stuart Beissel (New Zealand)