Chiefs make it four in a row
The Chiefs recorded a fourth straight Super Rugby victory as they saw off the Waratahs 30-13 to stay top in the New Zealand conference.
Last Updated: 31/03/12 11:08am
The Chiefs recorded a fourth straight Super Rugby victory as they saw off the Waratahs 30-13 to maintain first place in the New Zealand conference.
Full-back Robbie Robinson, flanker Liam Messam and prop Sona Taumalolo, the Chiefs' top try-scorer this season, all crossed the try-line in the win at Waikato Stadium.
The hosts failed to secure a four-try bonus point but the win still puts them five points ahead of the Highlanders.
The majority of the Chiefs' players sported shaved heads in support of Shave for a Cure, organised by Leukaemia and Blood Cancer New Zealand.
But it was the Waratahs who were quickest out of the gate, dominating territory and possession in the first 40 minutes only to trail 13-10 at the break.
The visitors opened the scoring in the fifth minute through young wing Tom Kingston, who burst through the midfield and managed to dot down despite the best efforts of Sonny Bill Williams.
The Chiefs sprung back into action and replied in kind shortly after through Robinson.
Sweeping move
A sweeping move up the field, with Aaron Cruden heavily involved, moved them close to the line and the fly-half who threw the last pass to put Robinson in at the left-hand corner.
Cruden added a couple of penalties before the interval while Waratahs kicker Brendan McKibbin could only manage one, giving the Chiefs an advantage that they had earned against the run of play.
But the home side improved drastically in the second half, bossing matters up front and making the dominance count out wide through one of the best back lines in the competition.
It did not take long after the restart for Taumalolo to score his fourth try of the season.
Williams, a constant threat in midfield, prodded a kick through which bounced up kindly to Richard Kahui in his 50th Super Rugby appearance and he fed the front row for the score.
Cruden added another penalty and when Messam crossed in the final quarter the contest had been killed off.
Openside flanker Sam Cane made an instant impact off the bench as he broke from a Waratahs scrum and intercepted before feeding half-back Tawera Kerr-Barlow, who found a charging Messam for the third and final try.
