A second half Lions blitz has seen the Hurricanes season end in the semifinals after a 44-29 loss in Johannesburg.
After an encouraging first half that saw the Hurricanes lead 22-10 on the back of tries to TJ Perenara, Wes Goosen and Ardie Savea best laid plans unravelled after the break.
The Lions were superb in front of their home crowd to continue an unbeaten season that will finish with a final against the Crusaders at the same venue next weekend.
The win avenged the Lions loss to the Hurricanes in last year's Investec Super Rugby final at Westpac Stadium.
Although it was not the result the Hurricanes were looking for in captain Dane Coles' 100th match, there was no lack of effort from coach Chris Boyd's men on the high veld as they emptied the tank before running out of collective puff in the second half.
There were two pivotal moments in the match. The first came just before the break when Lions prop Jacques van Royen managed to barge over for a try, while the second cam in the 59th minute when Hurricanes first five Beauden Barrett was sent to the sin bin.
Van Royen's try came at the end of a first half the Hurricanes had dominated and undoubtedly provided a massive boost to his side as they headed into halftime.
After an early penalty to Lions first five Elton Jantjies, the visitor's hit their straps.
Perenara scored when he toed through a loose Lions pass and won the race to the ball after 8 minutes and wing Wes Goosen scored two minutes later after a beautifully worked backs move that saw Nehe Milner-Skudder and Beauden Barrett combine.
A penalty to fullback Jordie Barrett and a runaway try to openside Ardie Savea, after lock Sam Lousi had created a loose ball at a ruck, had the Hurricanes up 22-3 after half an hour and looking dangerous every time they had the ball.
Van Royen's try turned the tide.
After the break halfback Ross Cronje reached out to score early, then tied the scores at 22-22 when hooker Malcolm Marx barged over from one of a series of Lions lineout drives.
The Hurricanes rallied to create a try for Ngani Laumape and led 27-22 before disaster struck.
Beauden Barrett had raced back in cover and made a superb tackle after a Lions line break, but as he tried to scramble out of the ruck his legs became tangled with the ball.
Referee Jaco Peyper deemed Barrett to be cynically slowing the ball and he was shown a yellow card.
The Lions did not miss their chance. Centre Harold Vorster scored to take the lead 32-29 with 19 minutes to play, then Jantjies sliced through from close range and suddenly it was at ten point margin.
Playing catch up by the time Barrett returned from the sinbin, the Hurricanes threw caution to the wind in the final minutes and when openside Kwagga Smith benefitted from an intercepted Perenara pass, the result was assured.
The Hurricanes season finished with a record of 13 wins and four losses.
Scorers:
Hurricanes 29 (TJ Perenara, Wes Goosen, Ardie Savea, Ngani Laumpe tries, Jordie Barrett 2 con, pen, Beauden Barrett con) Lions 44 (Jacques van Royen, Ross Cronje, Malcolm Marx, Harold Vorster, Elton Jantjies, Kwagga Smith tries, Jantjies 2 pen, 3 con). HT: 22-10.
