Chiefs edge combative Blues

The Chiefs cemented their place in the top six of the Super Rugby competition with a hard-earned 23-16 win over a combative Blues team in Hamilton on Saturday.

The Blues, desperate to record their first win of the season, was holding onto a slender three-point lead with the final quarter approaching.

However, an Aaron Cruden penalty and an 80-metre try by wing Tom Marshall sealed the win for the Chiefs.

While the vultures will continue to circle around troubled Blues coach John Kirwan, it was his team's best performance of the season.

But, alas, it was still not enough for a win.

The Chiefs move up to fourth in the standings, just three points behind the unbeaten Hurricanes at the top – but with more points than the second-placed Brumbies and third-placed Sharks.

The Chiefs looked to be running away with the game when they were up 10-0 inside the first 30 minutes, only to find themselves down 10-13 early in the second half.

But for the Blues it was a fleeting taste of being ahead which evaporated within five minutes when Aaron Cruden levelled the scores with a penalty, before Tom Marshall scored the game-breaking try.

Chiefs captain Liam Messam said he knew when the Blues put their nose in front that his side needed to regain control urgently.

"We tried to use our forwards to do that and we got control back. The backs made some great decisions to put the ball down there and put them under pressure and that came off well for us," he said.

The Chiefs have now won six of eight for the season while the Blues have played seven and lost seven.

It was also the Chiefs' ninth consecutive win over their neighbours, but it was performance neither side would be happy with.

The Chiefs reined in the high infringement rate that has seen them heavily penalised in recent weeks, but instead they suffered from a misfiring line-out and gave up an abundance of turnovers.

The Blues were guilty of falling off tackles and also losing possession in the rucks.

It took the Chiefs until the 18th minute to get their first points on the board from a Cruden penalty after the All Black pivot was astray with his first two attempts.

But once under way, it looked as if the floodgates were about to open as the Chiefs swept back on attack.

Augustine Pulu went close to scoring to start a sustained Chiefs attack on the Blues line which ended with a try to James Lowe.

The superior Chiefs forwards were driving through the Blues pack but let themselves down with poor ball control which led to the Blues' flyhalf Dan Bowden landing penalty to have the Chiefs ahead 10-3 at the turn.

The Blues had one good try-scoring chance in the first spell, but turned the ball over just metres from the line on the stroke of half-time.

But they were more assured after the resumption with Jerome Kaino opening the half with a try off the back of a five-metre scrum.

Bowden landed the conversion and a penalty to put the Blues ahead before Cruden levelled the scores with his second penalty.

Mike Leitch then set up the decisive try with a breakout from inside his own 22 which ended with Tom Marshall touching down.

Cruden and Blues replacement flyhalf Ihaia West exchanged penalties in the closing minutes with West's contribution ensuring the Blues at least picked up a bonus point.

Man of the match: Jerome Kaino always give his all, Ofa Tamanivalu was good value, Steven Luatua had his moments and Luke Braid made an impact after coming on as a replacement. Damian McKenzie again showed how dangerous he can be with ball in hand, Aaron Cruden was again the general directing the troops, Michael Leitch played a big role in the late rally and Ben Tameifuna had one of his better games of the season. However, our award goes to flank Sam Cane, who has been a strong pillar for the Chiefs all season, while some of his turnovers in this game were crucial and central to the final result.

The scorers:

For the Chiefs:

Tries: Lowe, Marshall

Cons: Cruden 2

Pens: Cruden 3

For the Blues:

Try: Kaino

Con: Bowden

Pens: Bowden 2, West

Teams:

Chiefs: 15 Damian McKenzie, 14 Tom Marshall, 13 Andrew Horrell, 12 Anton Lienert-Brown, 11 James Lowe, 10 Aaron Cruden, 9 Augustine Pulu, 8 Michael Leitch, 7 Sam Cane, 6 Liam Messam (captain), 5 Brodie Retallick, 4 Matt Symons, 3 Ben Tameifuna, 2 Hika Elliot, 1 Mitchell Graham.

Replacements: 16 Quentin MacDonald, 17 Siate Tokolahi, 18 Pauliasi Manu, 19 Michael Allardice, 20 Liam Squire, 21 Brad Weber, 22 Seta Tamanivalu, 23 Bryce Heem.

Blues: 15 Charles Piutau, 14 Frank Halai, 13 Pita Ahki, 12 George Moala, 11 Tevita Li, 10 Dan Bowden, 9 Jamison Gibson-Park, 8 Jerome Kaino (captain), 7 Brendon O'Connor, 6 Steven Luatua, 5 Hayden Triggs, 4 Josh Bekhuis, 3 Charlie Faumuina, 2 Keven Mealamu, 1 Ofa Tu'ungafasi.

Replacements: 16 James Parsons, 17 Sam Prattley, 18 Angus Ta'avao, 19 Patrick Tuipulotu, 20 Luke Braid, 21 Jimmy Cowan, 22 Ihaia West, 23 Francis Saili.

Referee: Mike Fraser (New Zealand)

Assistant referees: Glen Jackson (New Zealand), Shane McDermott (New Zealand)

TMO: Ben Skeen (New Zealand)