Chiefs snap losing streak
The Chiefs ended their three-match losing run after stunning the Highlanders with a second-half comeback.
Last Updated: 04/04/10 12:09pm
The Chiefs ended their three-match losing run after a second-half comeback stunned the Highlanders 27-21 in Mount Maunganui on Saturday.
The New Zealand outfit had not tasted victory since round three and it looked as though the hosts would extend their losing streak, as Hayden Triggs and Fetu'u Vainikolo went over for the Highlanders with Stephen Donald dotting down for the Chiefs.
The Hamilton side trailed 15-10 at the break but Ian Foster's side fought back in the second period, with Sione Lauaki and Sona Taumalolo scoring further five-pointers while the Highlanders were restricted to just two Israel Dagg penalties.
Endeavour
For all the attacking endeavour in the opening quarter all the teams had to show for their efforts was a penalty to Donald and a drop goal for Robbie Robinson respectively.
The match burst into life though shortly afterwards with three tries in nine minutes.
The Highlanders were dominating at the scrum and turned the Chiefs scrum which resulted in lock Triggs going over in the corner.
But the home side responded immediately when good clean lineout ball allowed Mike Delany - who had a strong game in his first start this season at fly-half - to put Donald in the gap and the inside centre ran hard to the line before slotting the conversion.
The Highlanders were soon back in front as wing Vainikolo, who had been denied a try earlier, sparked the counter-attack after claiming a big up and under then wrapped round to finish off the move in the right corner.
Dagg's conversion gave the visitors a 15-10 lead at the break.
Rewarded
The Chiefs started the second half strongly and camped in the Highlanders 22 and they were rewarded in the 45th minute with a try from Lauaki, which Donald converted, after Mils Muliaina and Delany had been repelled close to the line and prop Taumalolo held up in the in-goal area.
Donald and Dagg then traded penalties before Taumalolo finally burrowed over from close range for the Chiefs' third try and Donald's conversion stretched the lead to a more comfortable nine points.
Another Dagg penalty gave the Highlanders some hope but they squandered a try-scoring opportunity when Tim Boys could not take a pass with the line begging and it allowed the Chiefs to hold on for a much-needed win.
