Highlanders 7
The Chiefs arm-wrestled their way to their fourth win in 11 Super 15 rugby matches with a 20-7 win over an injury-stricken Highlanders in Hamilton today.
In a bruising encounter at Waikato Stadium, the Chiefs clung to a six-point lead for much of the second half before flanker Liam Messam dived over right on the whistle to secure the win.
The Highlanders looked threatening from the first whistle, committing numbers to the breakdown and forcing early turnovers as the Chiefs looked to move the ball wide.
Super 15 standings
The match's opening points came from broken play, as Highlanders first five-eighth Lima Sopoaga scythed through the midfield and set up an unlikely try to hooker Jason Rutledge lurking on the left wing.
Robbie Robinson added the extras and the Highlanders led 7-0 with barely 10 minutes on the clock.
Two penalties from the boot of Stephen Donald kept the Chiefs in touch at the 20-minute mark, although the Highlanders looked dangerous with Sopoaga in particular running strongly in his first match for the Highlanders since a shoulder injury in late February.
In for an injured Tony Brown (hamstring), and returning from committments with the New Zealand under-20 side, Sopoaga impressed with his vision, pace and off-loading in the tackle.
The remainder of the half featured a series of turnovers in scrappy play, with neither side managing any real continuity as the Highlanders went into the break with a slim 7-6 lead.
Their first-half domination of possession and territory faltered as the second stanza began, and the Chiefs hit the front just two minutes in as they managed to strong together six or seven phases after forcing the turnover 10 metres from their own line.
Good work from Lelia Masaga and Richard Kahui, then quick ball from the breakdown left the Highlanders' defence floundering, and halfback Brendon Leonard dived over from close in for the try.
Donald converted, and the Chiefs led 13-7 five minutes into the spell.
The Highlanders continued to struggle as coach Jamie Joseph was forced to all but clear his bench, with flanker Adam Thomson, Rutledge and lock Josh Bekhuis all sidelined by injury.
However, a combination of handling errors and wayward kicking continued to let the Chiefs down and although the Highlanders weathered the storm, they continued to look fractured as they tried to build momentum.
Handling errors plagued both teams as they chased the win, but Messam's late try put the result beyond doubt - and denied the Highlanders a consolation bonus point - as Tim Nanai-Williams nailed the conversion for a hard-earned 13-point win.
Chiefs 20 (Brendon Leonard, Liam Messam tries Stephen Donald, Tim Nanai-Williams cons Donald 2 pens) bt Highlanders 7 (Jason Rutledge try Robbie Robinson con) at Waikato Stadium. Referee: Garratt Williamson.
- NZPA
