Sharks 9
The Chiefs have breathed life into a Super 15 rugby season that was threatening to flatline with a gritty 15-9 upset victory over the previously unbeaten Sharks in Hamilton tonight.
There was plenty of endeavour, plenty of handling mistakes, plenty of aggressive defence but no tries as the home team prevailed by five penalties to three in greasy conditions at Waikato Stadium.
The Chiefs, who had one win from four going into the match, played most of the rugby and deserved to leave with four points, which sees them remain on the bottom of the New Zealand conference ladder but now just one point adrift of the Blues and Hurricanes and three behind the leading Highlanders.
MATCH STATS
SUPER 15 STANDINGS
They were far from perfect tonight in what was a match lacking basic handling skills on both sides, but they dominated possession, territory, and the forward exchanges, while the backs showed more enterprise than a Sharks team which failed to deliver on their top-of-the-table billing.
With 19 points - they picked up a bonus - the men from Durban remain on top, but they could be caught as the remainder of week five unfolds.
The Chiefs loose forwards outplayed their counterparts while replacement first five-eighth Mike Delany, who replaced the injured Stephen Donald midway through the first half, had a top game, nailing four penalties including the match-sealer on the fulltime whistle.
The Chiefs dominated the early exchanges but poor option taking proved costly as their liking for the blindside saw them run the ball into touch several times.
The Sharks scored with their first foray into the Chiefs' 22 when first five-eighth Patrick Lambie nailed a penalty and it took until the 18th minute for the Chiefs to register their first points, a penalty to fullback Tim Nanai-Williams immediately after Donald went down injured.
Donald lasted just another 4min before he was replaced by Delany.
The Chiefs continued to huff and puff during the first half and their willingness to run the ball in greasy conditions was admirable, but their handling was a disappointment and it wasn't until the final minutes of the half, when they were camped on the Sharks goalline, that they first threatened.
Defensively, the Sharks showed why they had been unbeaten through the first four rounds, but the home team matched them for intensity without the ball and wing Lelia Masaga highlighted their commitment with a try-saving tackle on his opposite, Lwazi Mvovo, in the first half.
The second half wasn't pretty but Chiefs coach Ian Foster will happily take the pressure-relieving four points.
Chiefs 15 (Mike Delany 4 pen, Tim Nanai-Williams pen) Sharks 9 (Patrick Lambie 3 pen). Halftime: 3-6.
- NZPA
