The smallest Canberra crowd in more than a decade watched the Brumbies end a five-match losing streak with a 17-16 Super Rugby win against the Hurricanes on Saturday night.

A Matt Giteau penalty in the 62nd minute placed the Brumbies in front to record their first win since round one, with the victory averting a record equalling six straight losses.

Both sides scored a try but Giteau's four penalties lifted the Brumbies to their first Super win against the Hurricanes since 2006 in front of 12,333 spectators.

The crowd was the lowest for a Brumbies home match since March 2000.

With the match between sides that had won game match apiece, the handling and ball retention reflected their positions on the table.

The win for the Brumbies keeps their slim hopes of qualifying for the finals while the Hurricanes can start preparing for 2012.

As the match progressed, the Brumbies scrum gained ascendency to place pressure on their opponent's first-phase ball.

The home side went to half-time ahead 11-10 following a try by man of the-match Henry Speight two minutes before the break.

Brumbies scrum-half Josh Valentine sniped at a ruck before several passes to Speight, who stepped twice off his left foot for the Fijian winger to score his first try of the season.

Speight started the match on the right wing before switching to the other flank following Adam Ashley-Cooper's departure for a stinger injury on his hip.

The Fijian atoned for an earlier miss where he lost the ball as he was crossing the tryline.

Momentum was with the Hurricanes initially as the visitors dominated possession and territory.

Hurricanes five-eighth Aaron Cruden scored the first try after he followed his charge down of Brumbies fullback Matt Toomua's clearing kick to slide over the tryline ahead of Ashley-Cooper in the fourth minute.

The charge down was the second off a Toomua kick in a minute.

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP