The Hurricanes finished their 2015 Investec Super Rugby round-robin campaign with a well-earned 21-13 win over the Chiefs at New Plymouth on Saturday night.
The team clinched a three tries to one win to finish the regular season with a record of 14 wins and 66 competition points in 16 matches played.
This was their seventh win in eight games on the road in 2015, establishing a new club record for most wins in a season away from home.
Playing with commitment and heart that has characterised their season so far, the Hurricanes fought back from a 0-13 deficit late in the first half to score two quickfire tries and take a 14-13 lead into halftime.
First five-eighth James Marshall then scored the only points of the second half, slicing through in general play to score and convert his own try, and the Hurricanes held on to win with a stiff wind at their backs.
Marshall's second half try was also the Hurricanes 58th of the season, equaling the number of tries they scored in 2012.
Earlier, both sides probed for early chances in a willing first 15 minutes, before Chiefs right wing Bryce Heem latched on to a loose pass and sprinted half the length of the field to score the first try.
The Chiefs won a penalty at a scrum and first five-eighth Marty McKenzie kicked a penalty to increase the lead to 10-0.
The Chiefs won possession from the re-start, kicked ahead and regained possession through an attacking scrum on the Hurricanes 22. Subsequently, they won another penalty and McKenzie extended their lead to 13-0 after half an hour.
The Hurricanes executed a promising raid, leading to Julian Savea being bundled out in the left hand corner. In this movement Chiefs fullback Tom Marshall was adjudged to have shunted him over the sideline in a no-arms tackle. Marshall was yellow carded and a penalty try was awarded.
Tom Marshall's brother, James, converted the penalty try to cut the Chiefs lead to 13-7.
The Hurricanes ran in a second try moments later, James Marshall making a break in open play and handing a pass to his captain Conrad Smith who raced through to score to give the Hurricanes a 14-13 lead.
The Hurricanes went close to opening the second half with another try, but captain Smith couldn't control the ball over the whitewash after a final transfer pass off Dane Coles.
The Hurricanes maintained their ascendancy and their reward was flyhalf Marshall slicing clean through a gap and racing clear to score under the posts. He converted his own try and the Hurricanes now led 21-13.
Hurricanes debutant Sam McNichol - on the field early for an injured Cory Jane - was desperately unlucky not to score, called back for a double movement after being tackled and shooting to his feet and carrying on in the clear.
Both sides probed for opportunities, but neither side could break through the other's defences again.
Scores:
Hurricanes 21 (James Marshall, Conrad Smith tries, penalty try; Marshall 3 cons) beat theChiefs 13 (Bryce Heem try; Marty McKenzie 2 pens, con). HT: 14-13
Scoring action (by minute):
16th: Bryce Heem try. Chiefs 5-0
17th: Marty McKenzie conversion. Chiefs 7-0
26th: Marty McKenzie penalty. Chiefs 10-0
31st: Marty McKenzie penalty. Chiefs 13-0
37th: Hurricanes penalty try. Chiefs 13-5
38th: James Marshall conversion. Chiefs 13-7
39th: Conrad Smith try. Chiefs 13-12
40th: James Marshall conversion. Hurricanes 14-13
50th: James Marshall try. Hurricanes 19-13
51st: James Marshall conversion. Hurricanes 21-13
The Hurricanes team was:
1. Reggie Goodes Replaced by Chris Eves, 49th minute
2. Dane Coles Replaced by Brayden Mitchell, 59th minute
3. Ben Franks Replaced by Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, 49th minute
4. Jeremy Thrush Replaced by Vaea Fifita, 76h minute
5.Mark Abbott
6. Brad Shields
7. Callum Gibbins
8. Victor Vito
9. TJ Perenara Replaced by Frae Wilson, 64th minute
10. James Marshall
11. Julian Savea
12. Rey Lee-Lo
13. Conrad Smith
14. Cory Jane Replaced by Sam McNicol, 18th minute
15. Nehe Milner-Skudder Replaced by Willis Halaholo, 49th minute
Reserves
16.Brayden Mitchell
17. Chris Eves
18. Jeffery Toomaga-Allen
19. Vaea Fifita
20. Ardie Savea
21. Frae Wilson
22. Willis Halaholo
23. Sam McNicol Replaced by Ardie Savea, 70th minute