Replacements Roy Kinikinilau and Piri Weepu combined for a try and conversion four minutes from fulltime to give the Hurricanes a 26-26 draw with the Blues in Super 12 rugby.

The draw left the Blues, last year's champions, only one place from the bottom of the ladder at the competition's midway point and the Hurricanes, with two wins and a draw, in seventh place.

The Blues scored three tries to two and the lead changed hands five times in a thrilling match which brought the Hurricanes close to their first win over Auckland in the nine years of the Super 12.

They led 13-11 at halftime and dimmed memories of their 60-7 loss to the Blues when the teams last met in Wellington.

Both teams followed policies of unbridled attack but backed that approach with vigorous defences.

Blues replacement five-eighth Orene Ai'i, in a desperate search for a win to revive the Blues' troubled campaign, twice drifted dropped goal attempts wide of the uprights in the last minute of play.

"We'll take a draw but I don't think any team likes one," said Hurricanes captain Jerry Collins.

"Both teams had their chances, we had a few and I guess two points is better than nothing.

"We don't have many wins behind us at this stage and the Super 12 is starting to run out. We were lucky to get away with a draw but we need some wins."

The Hurricanes opened the scoring with a fourth-minute intercept try to centre Tane Tuipulotu, who dashed 50 metres and plunged over the line in the desperate tackle of Rupeni Caucaunibuca.

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