Chiefs on the charge
Aaron Cruden led the way as the Chiefs extended their winning run with a 34-21 victory over the Lions.
By Tony Curtis - Follow me on Twitter @SkysportsTC
Last Updated: 05/05/12 10:35am
Aaron Cruden led the way as the Chiefs extended their winning run with a 34-21 victory over the Lions.
Having lost their opening game of the season to the Highlanders, the Chiefs have subsequently racked up nine successive wins to top the table.
Cruden has been at the heartbeat of the Waikato club's impressive run - with the All Blacks international this time weighing in with 22 points against the Lions, including the opening try of the match.
Craig Clarke, Lelia Masaga and Brendon Leonard also crossed to seal the bonus point for Chiefs.
The Lions, to their credit, remained competitive throughout and they were rewarded with tries from Cobus Grobbelaar (2) and Joshua Strauss - with Elton Jantjies converting all three.
Cruden got the Chiefs up and running with a fifth-minute penalty but the Lions responded well with Franco Van der Merwe held up over the line.
However Cruden extended the Chiefs' advantage to 6-0, before the in-form fly-half slid over for the opening try after Richard Kahui and Sam Cane had made the initial hard yards. Cruden added the conversion.
And the Chiefs highlighted their dominance when Clarke powered over from close range after Sonny Bill Williams was stopped just short. Cruden made no mistake with the extras.
The Lions, though, struck back with a try from Grobbelaar, with the replacement - a blood replacement for Van der Merwe - profiting from a textbook catch and drive. Jantjies slotted over the extras.
Bonus point
Masaga thought he had crossed for the third try for the Chiefs when he won the race to Cruden's chip ahead - however the TMO adjudged the ball had touched the dead ball line while being grounded.
There was no debate nine minutes into the second half, though, as Cruden collected his on chip over the top before he released Masaga for the try. Cruden converted.
The Lions hit back when skipper Joshua Strauss crashed over, with another set move from a lineout providing the platform for the visitors. Jantjies slotted over the conversion.
The joy was shortlived for John Mitchell's side, though, as Brendon Leonard crossed for the bonus-point try. The Lions were first guilty of coughing up possession and then failing to collect the Leonard's kick ahead, allowing the scrum-half to slide over. Cruden converted.
Again the Lions responded through the tried and tested catch and drive - with Grobbelaar again emerging from the bottom of the pile with the ball. Jantjies cut the deficit to 13 points with the conversion.
However it was the Chiefs who finished the stronger, with the hosts camped on the Lions line.
