View photosCHIEFS 39
HIGHLANDERS 24
KEY POINTS:
It happens every year, without fail. Just like winter, tax returns and payout time from the dairy company, the Chiefs always mount a late surge towards play-offs territory in the Super 14.
That appears to be happening again as the previously disjointed and disorganised Chiefs continue to shuck their old skin and begin to look like contenders again.
This thrust often ends in disappointment but, after some poor reviews - notably by former Waikato man Richard Loe in these pages a couple of weeks ago - the Chiefs seem to be adopting a more chieftainly persona rather than behaving like Indians recently introduced to the white man's firewater.
So it was no surprise to see livewire halfback Brendon Leonard dot down quickly under the posts after a smart cut by second five-eighths Callum Bruce (from a fine pass by first five Stephen Donald). Bruce followed that up with an equally intelligent kick that saw flanker Liam Messam outstrip opposing loose forward Craig Newby in the race to the ball.
After a brief pause, they fashioned another clever try, this time to winger Lelia Masaga after good work by Leonard, Mils Muliaina and a typically hustling, bustling, tackle-breaking finish from Masaga. Suddenly it was 22-0 and the Highlanders looked about as flat as a possum over which countless milk tankers have run on Highway 27.
But, of course, a Chiefs revival - or perhaps any Chiefs match - wouldn't be complete without a puzzling lapse. Or three.
First, the Highlanders fashioned a genuinely good try - second five-eighths Johnny Leota breaching the line way too easily and flinging a pass which saw winger Fetu'u Vainokolo in at the corner.
A few minutes later, more puzzlingly invisible Chiefs defence saw big second rower Hoani MacDonald wind up to an impressive full pace and blast past Leonard, Messam and others to score in the corner like a Jonah-sized winger. Daniel Bowden converted from the corner and suddenly the Highlanders had put on 12 points in quicker than even time.
Had they converted after another fine break by Vainokolo soon after, the match might have turned then.
However, the winger's pass to supporting lock Hayden Triggs went astray and halftime couldn't have arrived sooner for a Chiefs side who suddenly looked like a herd of Friesians who turned up at the cowshed at milking time only to find the nice man with the sucky cups had gone on holiday and what do we do next?
What they did next was to gather themselves at halftime and to rely on Masaga's scorching pace. Bowden turned over the ball, Donald poked an intelligent, long kick through where the southerners had no fullback and Masaga outpaced Vainokolo to win the touchdown.
Vainokolo had his revenge with about 20 minutes to go, skinning Masaga on the outside in their personal duel and setting up a goal-line ruck where MacDonald thundered over again for 27-19 and there we were once more - the Chiefs looking like unmilked Friesians and the Highlanders like they believed they could actually get the cream.
Until Masaga blazed out of defence in a run that had the Highlanders in all manner of panics, setting up a try to Donald. A try to Muliaina sealed the deal after a turnover near the Highlanders' line.
The Highlanders at least secured a bonus point with a last-minute try to Mike Delany.
For the Chiefs, Bruce played a fine hand in the midfield with his clever distribution and running. It is no coincidence the Chiefs' better backline form has occurred during a lift in Bruce's own.
Donald was also much in command and Masaga looks, with every passing week, a more credible candidate for higher honours with his pace, balance and ability to ignore tackles; his second half burst leading to Donald's try was breathtaking. Leonard was simply still the best halfback in view in the New Zealand franchises and maybe across the Super 14.
In the forwards, lock Kevin O'Neill - who has looked a bit of a plank at times - had his best game in the loose and carrying the ball while Messam was a constant threat.
The Highlanders gave yet another brave account of themselves, with MacDonald busy in attack and defence, Vainokolo dangerous and Newby never gave up. But they just didn't have the firepower, other than MacDonald, to truly threaten the Chiefs in the end.
