Chiefs continue charge with bonus-point win over Highlanders

The Chiefs have moved into first place on the Super Rugby Pacific live ladder, securing a bonus point 35-12 win over the Highlanders in Hamilton. With this result, the Chiefs have extended their winning streak to seven matches, last tasting defeat on March 20.

It was all the Chiefs for the first few minutes, but the home side failed to turn any dominance into points. The Chiefs had 78 per cent territory and just shy of 60 per cent possession when first five-eighth Cam Millar line up a shot at the sticks.

But fortunately for the Chiefs and the Hamilton faithful watching on from the stands, the first five-eighth pulled the attempt wide of the target. That gave the Chiefs a reprieve, as the search for the opening points continued.

The Chiefs looked to make that missed opportunity pay, going down the other end of the park and charging the ball into the red zone. But referee Nic Berry pinned the hosts for obstruction, which saw Miller kick the Highlanders out of danger.

While the stat line continued to favour the Chiefs, the Highlanders looked the more threatening with the opportunities they had. Jonah Lowe made a sizeable break down the left edge, and it ultimately led to points.

The Chiefs were pinned a couple of times, with the Highlanders setting up for an attacking scrum about 10 metres out from the line. Casey peeled off the scrum, carried Josh Jacomb over and beat Xavier Roe to the line, crossing for the opener in the 19^th minute.

With Millar knocking over the extras, the Highlanders had raced out to a 7-0 lead midway through the first term. Most visitors seemed to count against the visitors, but they had found a way to fight their way into the match.

But then the match took a turn.

Tupou Vaa’I won a pilfer penalty in the 24^th minute and Wallace Sititi ran in the bounce back points soon after. Naitoa Ah Kuoi took the Highlanders defensive wall on, threw a no-look inside ball to the backrower, who ran onto it at full flight.

Chiefs loosehead Ollie Norris made a break not long after the restart, sending the ball towards Sititi, who was there running in support. But the loose forward was held back, seeing Tomas Luvanini receive a yellow card for the foul.

The Chiefs had a one-man advantage and made sure to make the most of that. Ah Kuoi’s game-changing impact continued, with the lock running onto a pass from Roe on the 30-minute mark, to score the go ahead points.

Another Chiefs try just before the half saw them race out to a 14-point lead at the break. Ah Kuoi was highlighted at half-time as one of the standouts, while Sititi and Casey were among the other top performers for their respective sides.

The Highlanders unleashed waves of attacking pressure as they chased much-needed points early in the second term. Casey broke through to the line off a set-piece play, but Sititi held up the Highlander – with the TMO ruling out the effort.

Roe helped the Chiefs extend their lead further. The halfback picked the ball up at a ruck, threw a dummy and immediately ran through a large hole in the Highlanders defensive line, racing away for the Chiefs’ fourth try of the night.

But fullback Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens brought the Highlanders back into the contest, scoring with a spectacular somersault finish around the hour mark. While the conversion missed the target, the visitors had made the deficit 20 with just under 25 to play.

Jacomb nailed a 50/22 attempt with a little over 10 minutes remaining, setting up a match-sealing rolling maul. The Chiefs forwards remained patient as they marched towards the line, with Brodie McAlister reaping the rewards.

In the final play of the game, Kyren Taumoefolau threw a remarkable flick pass to Kyle Brown. As the outside back was being bundled into touch, the outstanding pass saw the Chiefs end this one in style.