It was an entertaining match for the full 80 minutes with 10 tries scored between the two sides with the Hurricanes winning by 2 points.

The ANZAC day commemorations set a sombre tone prior to the start of the match, however the 7,000 fans soon found their voice to cheer both teams on to some enterprising play. 

Four tries in the first 13 minutes raised the expectations of the crowd and they were not disappointed with some sublime skills leading to another three tries in the second half to send both teams to the sheds with the Hurricanes ahead 26-24.  The second half was a closer tussle, with only one further try added by each team resulting in a final score of 33 – 31 to the visitors.

Hurricanes 33 (K Low 1 try, M Paterson 1 Try, T Keats 1 Try, A Cruden 1 Try, M Nonu 1 Try, A Cruden 4 Con) beat the Highlanders 31 (J Cowan 1 try, A Soakai 1 Try, B Smith 1 Try, J Rutledge 1 Try, B Murray 1 Try, I Dagg 3 con)

Highlanders - 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Ben Smith, 13 Kenny Lynn, 12 Jason Shoemark, 11 Fetu'u Vainikolo, 10 Michael Hobbs, 9 Jimmy Cowan (c), 8 Steven Setephano, Alando Soakai, 6 Adam Thomson, 5 Hayden Triggs, 4 Josh Bekhuis, 3 Clint newland, 2 Jason Rutledge, 1 Chris King.

Reserves: 16 Peter Mirrielees, 17 Bronson Murray, 18 Joe Tuineau, 19 John Hardie, 20 Scott Cowan, 21 Robbie Robinson, 22 James Paterson.

Hurricanes - 1. John Schwalger,2. Andrew Hore (captain) ,3. Neemia Tialata,4. Bryn Evans,5. Michael Paterson,6. Victor Vito ,7. Karl Lowe,8. Rodney So’oialo ,9. Tyson Keats,10. Aaron Cruden,11. Hosea Gear ,12. Ma’a Nonu,13. Conrad Smith,14. Tamati Ellison ,15. Cory Jane

Reserves :16. Dane Coles,17. Jacob Ellison ,18. Jeremy Thrush,19. Nick Crosswell ,20. Piri Weepu,21. Jason Kawau,22. David Smith