Lions 30
A pair of first-half tries by flanker Scott Waldrom set up a narrow 34-30 victory for the Waikato Chiefs against the Lions in Super 15 rugby at Ellis Park overnight.
The Chiefs, however, had to withstand a ferocious attack after the final hooter as the Lions tried to end a five-match losing streak.
The Chiefs ended their own three-match losing streak in opening a short tour of South Africa. They face the slumping defending champion Bulls next week in Pretoria with a confidence boost.
"It's never easy to get a win like this, but we managed to stay patient and it worked for us," said Chiefs captain Mils Muliaina.
Waldrom scored his tries in the 21st and 29th minutes - the first from forward pressure on the Lions line, and the second when he was put neatly into a gap for him to run over unchallenged.
"I was just in the right place at the right time," said Waldrom, who also helped the Chiefs turnover a lot of tackle ball.
"We noticed the Lions like to hit it up, and that they become a little isolated, so we were able to get some turnovers."
Lock Romana Graham stretched over just before halftime to answer the 37th-minute try by Lions fullback Michael Killian, and send the Chiefs into the break 19-13 up.
Prop Toby Smith and midfielder Dwayne Sweeney crossed the tryline to stretch the lead to 31-19 and appear to put the Lions to bed.
But two tries in the final quarter suddenly revived the Lions.
Replacement flanker Josh Strauss barged over in the 62nd, then sustained attacking play saw Cobus Grobbelaar over after a rolling maul broke down the Chiefs defence in the 71st.
A 75th-minute penalty by Chiefs first five-eighths Stephen Donald moved the Chiefs four points clear, putting pressure back on the Lions to score a try to snatch the game.
But after holding on to the ball for 10 phases, they knocked on more than two minutes after the hooter sounded.
Lions captain Doppies La Grange was left frustrated that they started playing well too late.
"We let through too many soft tries," he said.
Chiefs 34 (Scott Waldrom 2, Romana Graham, Toby Smith, Dwayne Sweeney tries; Stephen Donald 3 conversions, penalty),
Lions 30 (Michael Killian, Josh Strauss, Cobus Grobbelaar tries; Burton Francis 2 conversions, 3 penalties, Rory Kockott conversion). HT: 19-13.
-AP
