Chiefs dent Moana's play-off hopes with statement win

MATCH REPORT: The Chiefs have sent a message to the rest of the Super Rugby Pacific competition with a 85-7 thumping of Moana Pasifika.

Moana Pasifika went into the game looking to cement their finals hopes, but were met by a blistering Chiefs attack.

Winger Leroy Carter and scrumhalf Cortez Ratima finished the game with hat-tricks as they were dominant from the early moments of the game.

Shaun Stevenson opened the scoring in the eighth minute, cruising over the line for a five-pointer that would set the tempo for the rest of the game.

Lock Tupou Vaa’i crossed shortly afterwards before the hosts kicked into gear.

Ratima and Damian McKenzie crossed alongside centre Quinn Tupaea as they took a 31-0 lead into the break.

Super Rugby Pacific Player of the Year Ardie Savea tried to inspire a comeback with a try in the 48th minute.

This only angered the Chiefs as Carter blitzed the opposition.

The winger scored three tries in the space of 16 minutes to blow the result well out of reach for the visitors.

Ratima then added two quick tries to complete his hat-trick as the Chiefs were rolling to victory.

Daniel Rona scored in the 74th minute as the Chiefs wrapped up top spot.

A penalty try sealed what was a near-perfect performance for the Chiefs, who are guaranteed a top-two finish.

They will face the Highlanders in Dunedin to finish the regular season, with the minor premiership wrapped up with a win.

Moana Pasifika need a win and results to go their way if they wish for a maiden finals appearance.

Meanwhile, the Waratahs’ finals dream is alive and kicking after Darby Lancaster’s 90th minute try iced a thrilling 22-17 Super Point win over the Western Force.

The one-cap Wallaby winger scored in the final seconds of Super Point to keep New South Wales’ season afloat with referee Angus Gardner deliberating at length before awarding Lancaster’s acrobatic one-handed finish.

Lancaster’s try capped a mad-cap Super Point period in which Alex Harford and Jack Bowen both missed penalty goal attempts while Kurtley Beale’s 52m effort also fell short just before the end of regulation time.

“I was unsure whether it popped up but lucky enough with the big screen behind us here for the referee to give it,” Lancaster told Stan Sport after full-time.

“I’m absolutely stoked – that was a hell of a grind. Credit to Western Force, they took us all the way.

“Jack Bowen sort of took over there (in Super Point). He’s really coming into his footy and it’s a pleasure to be playing behind them.”

The result sees New South Wales (26 competition points) close the gap on the sixth-placed Blues (28) ahead of next week’s final round clash in Auckland while the Force are now at risk of finishing bottom of the Super Rugby Pacific ladder with their upcoming bye.

Chiefs 85-7 Moana Pasifika

The scorers:

For Chiefs:
Tries: Carter 3, Ratima 3, Vaa’i, Stevenson, Taukei’aho, McKenzie, Tupaea, Penalty Try, Rona;
Cons: McKenzie 9

For Moana Pasifika:
Try: Savea
Con: Pellegrini

Teams

CHIEFS: 15 Shaun Stevenson, 14 Emoni Narawa, 13 Daniel Rona, 12 Quinn Tupaea, 11 Leroy Carter, 10 Damian McKenzie, 9 Cortez Ratima, 8 Wallace Sititi, 7 Luke Jacobson (captain), 6 Simon Parker, 5 Tupou Vaa’i, 4 Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 3 George Dyer, 2 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 1 Ollie Norris.
Replacements: 16 Brodie McAlister, 17 Aidan Ross, 18 Reuben O’Neill, 19 Josh Lord, 20 Samipeni Finau, 21 Xavier Roe, 22 Josh Jacomb, 23 Gideon Wrampling.

MOANA PASIFIKA: 15 Tevita Ofa, 14 Kyren Taumoefolau, 13 Lalomilo Lalamilo, 12 Danny Toala, 11 Solomon Alaimalo, 10 Patrick Pellegrini, 9 Jonathan Taumateine, 8 Semisi Tupou Ta’eiloa, 7 Ardie Savea (captain), 6 Miracle Faiilagi, 5 Samuel Slade, 4 Tom Savage, 3 Feleti Sae-Ta’ufo’ou, 2 Millennium Sanerivi, 1 Tito Tuipulotu.
Replacements: 16 Samiuela Moli, 17 Abraham Pole, 18 Chris Apoua, 19 Allan Craig, 20 Sione Havili Talitui, 21 Melani Matavao, 22 Julian Savea, 23 Jackson Garden-Bachop.

Referee: James Doleman
Assistant referees: Marcus Playle, Fraser Hannon
TMO: Richard Kelly

Western Force 17-22 Waratahs

The scorers: 

For Western Force:
Tries: Tizzano, Grealy, Stewart
Con: Donaldson

For Waratahs:
Tries: Lancaster 2, Reilly
Cons: Edmes 2
Pen: Bowen

Teams

WESTERN FORCE: 15 Mac Grealy, 14 Harry Potter, 13 Bayley Kuenzle, 12 Hamish Stewart, 11 Dylan Pietsch, 10 Ben Donaldson, 9 Nic White, 8 Nick Champion de Crespigny, 7 Carlo Tizzano, 6 Will Harris, 5 Darcy Swain, 4 Jeremy Williams (captain), 3 Tom Robertson, 2 Nic Dolly, 1 Fatongia Paea.
Replacements: 16 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 17 Ryan Coxon, 18 Tiaan Tauakipulu, 19 Reed Prinsep, 20 Titi Nofoagatotoa, 21 Henry Robertson, 22 Alex Harford, 23 Kurtley Beale.

WARATAHS: 15 Lawson Creighton, 14 Andrew Kellaway, 13 Lalakai Foketi, 12 Joey Walton, 11 Triston Reilly, 10 Tane Edmed, 9 Jake Gordon (captain), 8 Langi Gleeson, 7 Charlie Gamble, 6 Hugh Sinclair, 5 Miles Amatosero, 4 Fergus Lee-Warner, 3 Taniela Tupou, 2 David Porecki, 1 Angus Bell.
Replacements: 16 Mahe Vailanu, 17 Tom Lambert, 18 Daniel Botha, 19 Ben Grant, 20 Jamie Adamson, 21 Teddy Wilson, 22 Jack Bowen, 23 Darby Lancaster.

Referee: Angus Gardner
Assistant referees: Matt Kellahan, Graham Cooper
TMO: Brett Cronan

Sources: @SuperRugby & @Rugbycomau