Chiefs hold off fast-charging Moana
REPORT: A dominant first half has delivered the Chiefs a 50-35 victory over Moana Pasifika in their Super Rugby Round Six encounter in Pukekohe on Friday.
It was all the Chiefs in the opening 40 minutes as they blitzed their opposition before having to endure some unexpected nervy moments in the second half.
They began the game with four unanswered tries as hooker Bradley Slater nabbed the opener after some nice hands from Damian McKenzie and Shaun Stevenson.
The pair combined for the next try when Stevenson sliced through the defence for his first try since his return from Japan.
It gave the Chiefs a 17-0 lead, and they were far from being done.
Tries to Xavier Roe and Leroy Carter only extended the lead as Moana Pasifika captain Tom Savage could only watch from the bench after a yellow card.
Despite the numbers disadvantage, Moana Pasifika hit back in the 32 minutes when Pepesana Patafilo burst through the line, setting up William Havili to slide over the line.
But the first half was all the Chiefs as McKenzie and Manaaki Selby-Rickit crossed for a 43-7 half-time lead.
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Moana Pasifika unleashed their bench at the break and paid remarkable dividends.
Replacements Sama Malolo and Tuna Tuitama both scored as the hosts started to gain belief.
They scored 28 unanswered points as the Chiefs were caught napping after their fast start.
Havili’s second try, thanks to an intercept, suddenly had Chiefs fans nervous as the margin reduced to eight points with six minutes remaining.
But it was too much to overcome, with Samisoni Taukei’aho’s rolling maul try with two minutes to go sealing the win without a bonus point.
Regardless, the Chiefs will go into the bye in first place, eight points clear of the Crusaders in second place.
As for Moana Pasifika, they face a trip to Christchurch next weekend, where they are stuck on the bottom of the ladder.
The scorers
For Chiefs
Tries: Slater, Stevenson, Roe, Carter, Selby-Rickit, Taukei’aho
Cons: McKenzie 6
Pen: McKenzie
For Moana Pasifika
Tries: Havili, Pole, Malolo, Tuitama, Havili
Cons: Pellegrini 5
Yellow card: Tom Savage (Moana Pasifika, 29)
Teams
Moana Pasifika: 15 William Havili, 14 Losi Filipo, 13 Pepesana Patafilo, 12 Lalomilo Lalomilo, 11 Kyren Taumoefolau, 10 Patrick Pellegrini, 9 Jonathan Taumateine; 8 Semisi Tupou Ta’eiloa, 7 Miracle Faiilagi, 6 Ola Tauelangi, 5 Allan Craig, 4 Tom Savage (captain), 3 Sione Mafile’o, 2 Millennium Sanerivi, 1 Abraham Pole.
Replacements: 16 Sama Malolo, 17 Tito Tuipulotu, 18 Chris Apoua, 19 Michael Curry, 20 Semisi Paea, 21 Melani Matavao, 22 Tevita Ofa, 23 Tuna Tuitama.
Chiefs: 15 Shaun Stevenson, 14 Emoni Narawa, 13 Daniel Rona, 12 Gideon Wrampling, 11 Leroy Carter, 10 Damian McKenzie, 9 Xavier Roe; 8 Luke Jacobson (captain), 7 Kaylum Boshier, 6 Samipeni Finau, 5 Tupou Vaa’i, 4 Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 3 Reuben O’Neill, 2 Bradley Slater, 1 Jared Proffit.
Replacements: 16 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 17 Aidan Ross, 18 Sione Ahio, 19 James Thompson, 20 Jahrome Brown, 21 Cortez Ratima, 22 Josh Jacomb, 23 Quinn Tupaea.
Referee: Marcus Playle
Assistant referees: Angus Mabey & Fraser Hannon
TMO: Shane McDermott
Source: @SuperRugby
