THE Hurricanes delivered a lesson in clinical finishing to beat the Highlanders 29-12 in a fierce match in Wellington.
Winger Ben Lam scored two of the Hurricanes' four tries as they notched a third straight win and handed the Highlanders their first defeat of the season.
The scores were locked 12-12 entering the final half hour which the hosts dominated, scoring through a long-range penalty to Jordie Barrett and tries to wing Vince Aso and Lam. Both tries required expert, diving finishes in the corner from the wide men when tackled by the cover defence, as did Lam's first-half try.
It was the sort of finishing required as two of the competition's most resilient defensive sides went toe-to-toe, with the Hurricanes' ball-in-hand style prevailing against the kick-based Highlanders approach.
It was a fitting way for halfback TJ Perenara to bring up 100 games for the Hurricanes, who have won seven of their last eight Kiwi derby games at home.
The Chiefs inflicted more misery on the winless Sunwolves, bulldozing to a 61-10 win in Tokyo.
Damian McKenzie and Solomona Alaimalo grabbed two tries each in a dominant Chiefs performance, condemning the Sunwolves to a fifth successive defeat of the season.
The visitors, who won back-to-back Super Rugby titles in 2012 and 2013, ran in nine tries overall while McKenzie also kicked eight of nine conversion attempts as the Chiefs improved to three wins against one loss.
Canada international Tyler Ardron began the rout in the fifth minute, muscling over after Yu Tamura's booted clearance had smashed scrum-half Fumiaki Tanaka in the head.
Marauding centre Jack Goodhue scored two tries as the Crusaders snapped a two-game losing streak with a 33-14 victory over South Africa's Bulls.
Lock Scott Barrett and hooker Codie Taylor had set the Super Rugby champions back on the path to winning ways before Goodhue crossed twice in 10 minutes either side of the break with winger George Bridge sealing the extra point close to the end.
The Bulls, who have shown much greater adventure this season under new coach John Mitchell, dominated possession for large parts of the match but were unable to make the most of it and slumped to a fourth straight defeat.
Winger Travis Ismaiel scored a brilliant individual try for the visitors after half an hour and replacement back Marco van Staden grabbed another with 10 minutes remaining in the contest.
A confident Rebels side ran in six tries to secure their maiden win over South Africa's Sharks 46-14 at the sixth attempt on Friday.
Near identical scores from rolling mauls for hooker Anaru Rangi and No.8 Amanaki Mafihelped the hosts to a 15-7 lead at half-time before Wallabies scrum-half Will Genia and centre Billy Meakes crossed after the break.
Reserve hooker Fereti Sa'aga showed blistering pace to send Ross Haylett- Petty over for the fifth try and added a score of his own in the last few seconds to assure the Rebels an impressive fourth win in five matches this season.
Lwazi Mvovo and Marius Louw scored tries for the Durban-based Sharks but the visitors showed too little to ever really threaten to become the first South African side to win on the road this season.
In the late game Stormers saw off the Reds 25-19.
Dewaldt Duvenage, Wilko Louw and Raymond Rhule grabbed the Stormers tries, with Caleb Timu, Alex Mafiand Filipo Daugunu replying for the Reds.
