Rugby: Woeful kicking costs Chiefs victory

Sitiveni Sivivatu, of the Chiefs, makes a break in the game. Photo / Getty Images

Full Time Score
Chiefs 25
Cheetahs 25

Ugly, messy, disappointing. Call it what you like, the all-night struggle at Waikato Stadium ended in the sort of disappointing stalemate the match deserved.

The Chiefs were denied their first victory this season at Waikato Stadium and the Cheetahs, their first win in New Zealand since their return to Super rugby.

The Chiefs had been beaten four times at the venue in a season when a swag of injuries and unconvincing form left them vulnerable. But the Cheetahs had only claimed two wins this year, they were struggling with injuries and had not won in 21 games in New Zealand since they were readmitted to the competition in 2006.

In a match of poor skills, the Chiefs outscored their rivals five tries to three, but woeful goalkicking from Stephen Donald and Callum Bruce failed to convert any of their combined eight attempts.

The Cheetahs rattled home strongly in the last quarter as they sensed an upset. But, in their anxiety, they botched chances and the sides had to settle for a stalemate to match their result in Bloemfontein in 2007.

There was a dream start for Colin Bourke. Called in to add accuracy in place of former All Black Sione Lauaki, the versatile Bourke stretched out to finish a sweeping scoring movement in the fourth minute.

That roaring start suggested the revamped Chiefs might sweep past their opponents, but it quickly proved to be a mirage, certainly in the first half. The Chiefs scored four tries but five-eighths Stephen Donald missed every conversion and two other penalties which would have given his side a decent buffer at the break.

Instead the Cheetahs chased an historic victory to banish five years of failure in New Zealand. The visitors were solid without sparking in the backs, but they used the rolling maul to great effect with Davon Raubenheimer scoring from an all-in rumble and several other drives going close.

The Chiefs responded with hooker Hika Elliot barrelling over from a rolling mauls for the bonus point after half an hour while Dwayne Sweeney was denied a fifth try before the interval by the television match official.

Coach Ian Foster offered his side a pass mark at the break but no more, the mistakes were too plentiful around the good phases of play.

It was crucial the Chiefs returned to the arena and scored first if they were to push clear of their rivals.

The Cheetahs immediately looked to mess up the Chiefs' plans, but Jongi Nokwe was undone by a wicked bounce of the ball over the line. They made amends soon after when burly prop WP Nel barged over and the nerves among the small home crowd and coaching staff jangled harder.

It got worse minutes later when the Chiefs spilled a pass trying to counterattack from their 22. Meyer Bosman scooted over and the visitors had the lead for the first time.

Liam Messam's late try - and the inevitable failed conversion - sealed the ugly stalemate.

Chiefs: C Bourke, D Sweeney, T Smith, H Elliot, L Messam, tries.

Cheetahs: D Raubenheimer, WP Nel, M Bosman, tries; N Olivier 2 pen, 2 con.

Halftime: 20-10