Rampant Hurricanes thump Force

Hurricanes wingers David Smith and Tamati Ellison ran riot as a wounded Western
Force slumped to a demoralising 47-22 Super 14 defeat in Wellington on Saturday.
Ellison set up three tries and Smith was on the end of two as the Hurricanes ran in
seven tries to three on the way to the commanding bonus-point victory.
The Force, missing a host of key players including David Pocock, Richard Brown, Ryan
Cross, Cameron Shepherd and Mark Bartholomeusz, looked promising at times during the
opening half but were simply blown away after the break.
Inside centre Josh Tatupu, winger Dane Haylett-Petty and substitute halfback Chris
O'Young scored tries for the Force.
But it was never nearly enough as fullback Corey Jane, prop Neemia Tialata, flanker
Michael Paterson, centre Ma'a Nonu and substitute Tyson Keats complemented Smith's
brace as the Hurricanes ran away with the match.
The loss leaves the Force languishing near the foot of the table following last
week's defeat to the Brumbies, while the Hurricanes have two wins from as many
outings.
The Force opened the scoring through a James O'Connor penalty but the visitors were
clearly on the backfoot early as the Hurricanes' attacking flair shone early.
Hurricanes five-eighth Willie Ripia, who endured a horror night with the boot,
levelled the scores with his 11th-minute penalty and four minutes later fullback
Corey Jane posted the first try of the match following a wonderful break from Nonu
and a perfectly-weighted grubber kick from Ellison.
The Force were struggling to contain the Hurricanes and were down 18-3 after 24
minutes when another beautiful grubber kick from Ellison found Smith unmarked in the
corner.
But in the face of adversity the Force lifted as their powerful forward pack started
to create opportunities for the backs.
Haylett-Petty spotted a gap in between Conrad Smith and Nonu to open up the
Hurricanes' defence and Tatupu reaped the rewards, touching down in the corner to
close the gap to 18-8 in the 27th minute.
O'Connor's conversion attempt bounced out after hitting the upright and the crossbar
and the Force were again unlucky four minutes later when flanker Matt Hodgson was
denied a try after being well held up by Smith.
O'Connor, who copped a heavy knock to the head early in the game by flanker Scott
Waldrom, missed a 39th-minute penalty and the Force's momentum evaporated during the
half-time break as the home side came out with vigour in the second period.
Paterson's try in the 44th minute extended the lead out to 23-8 but when
Haylett-Petty crossed in the 61st minute and O'Connor converted, the Force trailed
by just 15 points.
But the Hurricanes once again stamped their authority on the match as the tries
rained down, with Tialata, Nonu and Keats all crossing in the final 20 minutes.