Beauden Barrett's last minute try ensured the Hurricanes walked away with maximum championship points, if not maximum satisfaction, after a 42-20 Investec Super Rugby win over the Southern Kings at Westpac Stadium.
Hurricanes coach Chris Boyd was happy with the result, but not the execution after his side struggled to capitalise on a bright start and allowed the Kings to stay in the match until the final quarter.
There were plenty of bright spots for the home side with tries to Ngani Laumape, Blade Thomson, Ardie Savea, Vince Aso and Beauden Barret keeping the 15,345 strong Easter Friday crowd entertained.
It was the biggest first up Westpac Stadium crowd of a Hurricanes Super Rugby season since 2008 and with the Kings putting up admirable resistance they didn't leave disappointed by the contest.
Perhaps the issue for the Hurricanes was that they started so well. There was intent in their ball carrying and easy yards made both in the middle of the park, and on the fringes. When Laumape scored the first try, courtesy of an Ardie Savea, assist many were wondering if it might be one-way traffic.
With the Kings defence too slow to come up the Hurricanes were spreading the ball to the space out wide and after 12 minutes No 8 Blade Thomson had stretched over for the home side's second try.
An errant clearing kick found its way into the arms of TJ Perenara and after a nice interchange with Dane Coles, Savea had his side's third try and the rout was on.
Instead the Kings gritted their teeth and hung in there. Led by captain and lock Steven Sykes and dynamic hooker Edgar Marutlulle, the visitors refused to go quietly.
Sykes scored himself, then hard running second five Shane Gates set up his first five Louis Fouche for a brilliant try on the stroke of halftime and suddenly the Hurricanes had a fight on their hands at just 19-17 up.
They weren't helping themselves, too impatient with possession and without the steady hand of fullback James Marshall, who went off with concussion.
Wing Jason Woodward made a strong return to the starting side and was finding holes, but the Hurricanes couldn't find the final pass as opportunities continued to go begging.
For all that, it did seem a matter of time. Vaea Fifita had the ball knocked out of his hands on one of several electric runs, while Perenara was stopped just short after a Woodward bust.
The dam finally burst when replacement prop Loni Uhila reeled in an intercept and set sail with the ball in one of his giant mitts. Uhila found Fifita, who skilfully got the final pass away as he went into touch, Vince Aso dotting down in the corner in the 73rd minute to make the game safe.
Barrett then latched onto an overthrown lineout near halfway and showed off his trademark pace to scoot in and restore the three try buffer and secure the precious bonus point.
The first five finished with a personal tally of 22-points and the Hurricanes got their third straight win heading into the bye weekend.
Replacement halfback Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi and lock Geoff Cridge both made their Super Rugby debuts, the former denied his first try when a forward pass was rightfully called back in the final few minutes.
It summed up a night where the Hurricanes were close, but not quite where they wanted to be.
No doubt there will much to improve on before they play the Jaguares at the same venue in a fortnight's time.
Scorers: Hurricanes 42 (Ngani Laumape, Blade Thomson, Ardie Savea, Vince Aso, Beauden Barret tries; Barrett 4 con, 3 pen) Kings 20 (Steven Sykes, Louis Fouche tries; Fouche 2 con, 2 pen). HT: 19-17.