Top four win, Reds break hoodoo as Tonga welcomes Super Rugby

SYDNEY : Wellington Hurricanes, Auckland Blues, ACT Brumbies and Waikato Chiefs won to cement their positions at the top of Super Rugby Pacific table as the competition entered the last third of the regular season in round 11.

The Queensland Reds clung onto the coat-tails of the top four with a first win over the Canterbury Crusaders in New Zealand since 1999 while torrential rain failed to dampen spirits as Super Rugby arrived in Tonga for the first time.

The Hurricanes suffered their defeat this season at the Brumbies last week but rebounded with a ruthless 41-12 demolition of New South Wales Waratahs at Sydney Football Stadium to open the weekend's action.

Hard-nosed forward play and powerful running in the backline helped the New Zealanders to a 26-0 lead at the break and winger Salesi Rayasi came off the bench to cross twice in the second half.

Hurricanes scrumhalf TJ Perenara scored the final try in the last minute, his 64th Super Rugby five-pointer putting him top of the all-time scoring chart ahead of Julian Savea.

The Blues had a tougher time against the Melbourne Rebels on Friday evening but they too secured a bonus point with a 38-11 victory at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium.

Winger Mark Telea and lock Sam Darry each grabbed a brace of tries as the Blues ensured they would remain a point behind the Hurricanes ahead of next week's top-of-the-table clash in Auckland.

The Brumbies, Australia's top contenders, rounded out the weekend with a tense 28-20 win over a spirited Fijian Drua in Canberra.

A brace of tries from centre Len Ikitau and another by prop Allan Alaalatoa gave the Brumbies a 21-3 lead, but the visitors responded with scores from lock Isoa Nasilasila and scrumhalf Simione Kuruvoli to close the gap to four