The Chiefs withstood a Highlanders fightback to win 27-22 in Hamilton on Friday, writes SIMON BORCHARDT.
The hosts looked set for a comfortable victory when they led 20-7 early in the second half, but two tries and a penalty from the visitors saw them edge ahead 22-20 after 64 minutes.
However, the Chiefs added a third try and then kept the Highlanders out in the final minutes to make captain Sam Cane’s 100th game for the franchise a memorable one.
The Highlanders suffered a big blow in the sixth minute of the match when All Blacks flyhalf Lima Sopoago left the field with what appeared to be an Achilles injury.
Damian McKenzie opened the scoring with a penalty goal, which came after a 15-phase attack that saw the Chiefs get to within 5m of the tryline. They smartly took the three points and did so again at the end of the first quarter to double their tally.
The Highlanders hit back soon after when Waisake Naholo ran onto Rob Thompson’s pin-point cross-kick and scored in the right-hand corner. Replacement Fletcher Smith slotted the touchline conversion.
The Chiefs regained the lead just before half-time. Toni Pulu did superbly well to tap McKenzie’s cross-kick back inside for Solomon Alaimalo and McKenzie added the extras to make it 13-7.
The hosts struck again early in the second half. From a scrum, McKenzie went on a darting run that saw him stopped just short of the tryline. Nathan Harris then went over from close range for a converted try that put the Chiefs ahead by 13.
The Highlanders had to score next, and they did. Aaron Smith took a quick penalty tap from 5m out and from the next ruck, the scrumhalf sent it wide to Tevita Li, who dived over in the left-hand corner. Smith botched the conversion but then kicked a penalty goal to narrow the gap to just five points.
The visitors then briefly went back in front after McKenzie’s left-footed clearance kick came back off his own player, Elliot Dixon, and was brilliantly picked up by Ash Dixon. The ball was quickly recycled at the subsequent ruck and two passes saw Patelsio Tomkinson go over for his side’s third try.
The Chiefs responded with an 11-phase attack that was finished off by Sean Wainui in the left-hand corner and McKenzie’s conversion made it 27-22.
The Highlanders pushed hard for a match-winning converted try in the final minutes of the match. But they lost possession close to the tryline and then lost two consecutive lineouts, which allowed the Chiefs to shut down the game and secure the win.
Chiefs – Tries: Solomon Alaimalo, Nathan Harris, Sean Wainui. Conversions: Damian McKenzie (3). Penalties: McKenzie (2).
Highlanders – Tries: Waisake Naholo, Tevita Li, Patelsio Tomkinson. Conversions: Fletcher Smith (2). Penalty: Smith.
Chiefs – 15 Solomon Alaimalo, 14 Toni Pulu, 13 Anton Lienert-Brown, 12 Johnny Faauli, 11 Sean Wainui, 10 Damian McKenzie, 9 Brad Weber, 8 Taleni Seu, 7 Sam Cane (c), 6 Liam Messam, 5 Tyler Ardron, 4 Brodie Retallick, 3 Angus Ta’avao, 2 Nathan Harris, 1 Aidan Ross.
Subs: 16 Liam Polwart, 17 Karl Tu’inukuafe, 18 Jeff Thwaites, 19 Pita-Gus Sowakula, 20 Lachlan Boshier, 21 Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, 22 Marty McKenzie, 23 Charlie Ngatai.
Highlanders – 15 Ben Smith (c), 14 Waisake Naholo, 13 Matt Faddes, 12 Rob Thompson, 11 Tevita Li, 10 Lima Sopoaga, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Luke Whitelock, 7 Dillon Hunt, 6 Elliot Dixon, 5 Josh Dickson, 4 Jackson Hemopo, 3 Siate Tokolahi, 2 Ash Dixon, 1 Daniel Lienert-Brown.
Subs: 16 Greg Pleasants-Tate, 17 Aki Seiuli, 18 Tyrel Lomax, 19 Tom Franklin, 20 Shannon Frizell, 21 Josh Renton, 22 Fletcher Smith, 23 Patelsio Tomkinson.
Photo: Michael Bradley/Getty Images
