Rebels 10
The Chiefs overcame the loss of captain Mils Muliaina to injury to hammer the Melbourne Rebels 38-10 in a Super 15 rugby match in Hamilton tonight.
The home side registered their first win of the season and their first win at Waikato Stadium since May 2009 despite the absence of All Blacks fullback Muliaina who left the field after 20 minutes with a lower back injury.
MATCH STATS
SUPER 15 STANDINGS
The Chiefs, disappointed to lose their opening two matches away against the Brumbies and the Highlanders, made heavy going of downing a limited Rebels side in rain-soaked conditions at Waikato Stadium.
The slick surface and some sloppy handling prevented a free-flowing match, but the Chiefs did enough through tries to Lelia Masaga (2), Sitiveni Sivivatu and Sona Taumalolo and 18 points from the boot of Stephen Donald to pick up the first points of their campaign.
Despite monopolising possession in the first half, the Chiefs were reliant on the boot of the recalled Stephen Donald to give them a 6-3 advantage until Sivivatu grabbed the opening try.
The All Blacks winger finished off a move sparked by lock Isaac Ross to cross in the 35th minute. But that try was scant reward for the domination that the Chiefs enjoyed and they were guilty of taking the wrong option when they had their opponents stretched.
Dwayne Sweeney had earlier blown a golden opportunity after being put into space when he opted to take the tackle when he had unmarked players on both sides of him.
But Donald's boot helped the Chiefs extend their lead to 16-3 at the interval and Masaga's try seven minutes after the resumption looked to have put the match beyond the Rebels. Masaga, who received a pass that looked suspiciously forward from Tana Umaga, evaded two defenders and then slid over in the corner.
The Rebels offered little on attack, despite first five-eighth Danny Cipriani steering them around the field with some astute tactical kicking, and resorted to forward surges to put the home team under pressure.
No.8 Gareth Delve managed to spin over close to the line with 22 minutes left to give the Rebels faint hope but when replacement prop Sona Taumalolo drove over seven minutes later that hope was extinguished.
The Chiefs saved their best until last with a length of the field effort two minutes from time to clinch a fourth-try bonus point. Tim Nani-Williams, on for Muliaina, scooped up the ball five metres from his own line, fed Umaga who released Masaga and the winger showed blistering pace to outstrip the defence and slide over for his second try of the night.
The visitors were without former All Blacks lock Kevin O'Neill who failed a fitness test on an injured calf yesterday.
Chiefs 38 (Lelia Masaga 2, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Arizona Taumalolo tries Stephen Donald 3 cons 4 pens) bt Melbourne Rebels 10 (Gareth Delve try Danny Cipriani con pen) at Waikato Stadium. Referee: Vinny Munro.
- NZPA
