Lam hat-trick inspires Hurricanes victory

Ben Lam crossed for three tries as the Hurricanes claimed a 28-19 Super Rugby victory over the Lions on Saturday.

The winger powered past Ruan Combrinck to score his first after just six minutes, before an Ardie Savea try helped the hosts to a 14-7 lead at the interval.

The Canes raced clear early in the second half, as Lam touched down twice in the opening 13 minutes to open up a 28-7 advantage, with Beauden Barrett faultless from the tee.

Tries from Marnus Schoeman and Sylvian Mahuza closed the gap late on, but Lam's sensational showing had left the South African side with too much to do.

The result pulls the Hurricanes within two points of the table-topping Crusaders, while the Lions remain top of the South African Conference despite a second successive defeat.

In the day's second fixture, the Blues subjected the Waratahs to back-to-back losses as they won 24-21 in Sydney.

Michael Hooper's late try and Bernard Foley's conversion pulled the Waratahs within three points eight minutes from time but the hosts could not complete the comeback, although they stay top of the Australian Conference.