The Hurricanes were forced to dig deep in the second half to secure a 31-23 win over the Western Force after the visitors threatened to end a 12-year hoodoo with a first victory over Kiwi opposition in New Zealand in more than a decade.
Holding a surprise 8-5 halftime lead through a 27th-minute try to Darby Lancaster and a penalty from Ben Donaldson, the Force extended their advantage early in the second spell before the match quickly turned when Brad Shields crashed over in the 48th minute.
Further tries to Devan Flanders, Callum Harkin and Warner Dearns — whose charge-down try came while the Hurricanes were down to 14 men following Isaia Walker-Leawere’s yellow card — sealed the result in Napier, despite late tries from Lancaster and Lopeti Faifua as the Force fell to a fourth loss from five matches this season.
