The Hurricanes beat the Chiefs 22-18 in a grandstand finish in Wellington to register their 11th win of the season.

The Hurricanes won with two big defensive plays at the end. Pressed hard on their own tryline, replacement halfback Augustine Pulu crossed for what he thought was the match-winner, only to be called back for a knock-on by one of his forwards at the bottom of the preceding ruck.

The Hurricanes then failed to clear the ball so the Chiefs earned an attacking scrum with the last play of the game, only for the Hurricanes pack to shunt them off the ball, win the play and the match.

Previously, Chiefs flanker Sam Cane had scored in the 74th minute, after the Hurricanes had held a 22-13 lead heading towards the finish. Chief first five-eighth Damien McKenize was unable to convert Cane's try from out-wide, meaning the visitors had to score a try to win.

The win lifts the Hurricanes to 52 points on the New Zealand Conference ladder, 13 points clear of the Chiefs now on 39. Their next match is next Saturday night against the Blues in Auckland.

Second five-eighth Ma'a Nonu was at the forefront of another courageous team effort, and he was rewarded with a brace of tries to take his career tally to 50. He is the third player to surpass 50 career Super Rugby tries to have played for the Hurricanes, after Doug Howlett (59) and Christian Cullen (56).

The Chiefs put the Hurricanes under pressure throughout much of the first half, but they responded with dogged defence. The Hurricanes lifted their tempo early in the second spell but this time the Chiefs rose to the challenge. This was a titanic struggle between two of the competition's best teams.

Earlier, Hurricanes fullback Nehe Milner-Skudder made the first decisive clean break of the game. He was dragged down by the covering defence, but the Hurricanes won a penalty and kicked for a lineout.

From the next play, second five-eighth Nonu chopped inside his marker and dived under the posts to score a converted try to put the Hurricanes 7-0 ahead.

The Chiefs replied through the boot of first five-eighth McKenzie, before a break by the visitors almost resulted in a try to McKenzie. Momentum remained with the visitors, leading to a second McKenzie penalty to close the gap to 7-6.

Left wing Julian Savea ran back a high kick in general play to set up a positive passage of play for the Hurricanes. The cover held on, but the Hurricanes won a penalty at the breakdown and Marshall extended their lead to 10-6.

Heem made another burst for the Chiefs and turned the ball back on his inside channel to second five-eighth Charles Ngatai who raced through to score their first try of the match.

McKenzie converted Ngatai's try to give the Chiefs a 13-10 lead at the halftime interval.

The Hurricanes forwards made a concerted drive at the chalk early in the first half, winning a series of penalties and lineout drives.

Third time lucky, Hurricanes openside flanker Ardie Savea drove over to score in the right hand corner to see them re-claim the lead at 15-13.

The Hurricanes made another promising raid up into Chiefs territory. During this move, Chiefs flanker Liam Squire was sin-binned for a dangerous tackle on Nonu.

From the next play, Nonu went desperately close to scoring for the Hurricanes but he knocked the ball on over the line.

The contest remained on tenterhooks, before the Hurricanes nearly replied with a stunning try from a counterattack and sizzling passage of support play. But the movement was called back for a forward pass.

Instead, Nonu plucked a short pass out of the air with skill and precision and raced through to score an intercept try, his second try of the match.

Down but not out, the Chiefs rattled back into the contest and flanker Sam Cane buried himself under the line to score a try. McKenzie couldn't add the extras and the Hurricanes held a 22-18 lead with five minutes to play, setting up a dramatic finish.

Scores:

Hurricanes 22 (Ma'a Nonu 2, Ardie Savea tries; James Marshall 2 con, pen) beat the Chiefs 18 (Charlie Ngatai, Sam Cane tries, Damian McKenzie con, 2 pen). HT: 10-13.

The scoring action (by minute):

8th: Ma'a Nonu try. Hurricanes 5-0

9th: James Marshall conversion. Hurricanes 7-0

12th: Damien McKenzie penalty. Hurricanes 7-3

24th: Damien McKenzie penalty. Hurricanes 7-6

37th: James Marshall penalty. Hurricanes 10-6

40th: Charles Ngatai try. Chiefs 11-10

41st (first): Damien McKenzie conversion. Chiefs 13-10

46th: Ardie Savea try. Hurricanes 15-13

68th: Ma'a Nonu try. Hurricanes 20-13

69th: James Marshall try. Hurricanes 22-13

74th: Sam Cane try. Hurricanes 22-18

78th: Augustine Pulu try. Chiefs 23-22

The Hurricanes team was:

1.Reggie Goodes Replaced by Chris Eves, 71st minute
2.Motu Matu'u Replaced by Motu Matu'u, 41st minute
3.Ben Franks Replaced by Jeff Toomaga-Allen, 37th minute
4.Jeremy Thrush
5.James Broadhurst
6.Brad Shields Replaced by Callum Gibbins, 64th minute
7.Ardie Savea
8.Victor Vito Replaced by Blade Thompson, 60th minute
9.TJ Perenara
10.James Marshall Replaced by Otere Black, 71st minute
11.Julian Savea
12.Ma'a Nonu
13.Conrad Smith Replaced by Rey Lee-Lo, 60th minute
14.Cory Jane
15.Nehe Milner-Skudder

Reserves
16.Dane Coles
17.Chris Eves
18.Jeffery Toomaga-Allen
19.Callum Gibbins
20.Blade Thomson
21.Chris Smylie
22.Otere Black
23.Rey Lee-Lo