They had 66% of the ball and close to 70% of the territory, and they built phases well and got themselves into good areas from which to score.
In too many crucial moments, though, the execution went missing.
The Hurricanes’ defence was solid, but for the most part, it was the Highlanders’ own mistakes that condemned them to a 21-14 loss in Wellington on Saturday night.
It was an effort littered with dropped balls, bad passes and too many penalties when the Highlanders were within striking range.
Even when Manaaki Selby-Rickit finally crossed for the first try — midway through the second half — it came from a Liam Coltman dropped pass that was fortunate to not be deemed a knock-on by the TMO.
While forced to defend for much of the game, the Hurricanes made better use of what they had.
Three times they busted through the Highlanders defence, capitalising on each of those occasions.
The first came early in the first half, when Hurricanes loosehead prop Pouri Rakete-Stones brushed off Highlanders openside flanker Hugh Renton and ran 20m to score the opening try.
It was the only try either team managed before halftime, and one of the few times the hosts threatened.
Several strong runs from Thomas Umaga-Jensen, as well a flash of brilliance from Connor Garden-Bachop, helped put the Highlanders in attacking positions.
But they were unable to score — Shannon Frizell got closest when he touched down, but was pulled back for a double movement.
Mitch Hunt’s usually reliable boot did not yield points either as he missed both penalty shots at goal.
Despite the visitors’ dominance, it was the Hurricanes which scored next.
A Bailyn Sullivan break put Ardie Savea into space up the left wing, not dissimilar to the match-winning sequence from a week earlier against the Blues.
It put the Hurricanes on to the front foot and, shortly after, Billy Proctor ran a good angle close to the ruck to make it 14-0 10 minutes into the second half.
The Highlanders responded with yet another sequence of dominance.
They hammered away at the Hurricanes line, got them on a warning, and should have scored when young winger Liam Coombes-Fabling dropped a cross kick unmarked on the line.
The pressure eventually told, though.
There may have been an element of luck as Coltman spilled the ball, deemed to be fine by the TMO, and Selby-Rickit collected to crash over.
It was the break the Highlanders needed.
But the Hurricanes hit back, and a break from dynamic replacement No8 Brayden Iose again left the Highlanders scrambling.
From there, Peter Umaga-Jensen completely wrong-footed Scott Gregory to beat him untouched on the outside, linking with Logan Henry to make it 21-7.
The Highlanders made a final push, as a Garden-Bachop break initiated a sequence that ended in Josh Dickson running on to a ball to score with five minutes to go, but the Hurricanes held on until the whistle.
