Win shows Chiefs can overcome last year's bogey

It was the Reds who ultimately cost the Chiefs a semifinal chance last season with their round four upset in Hamilton.

So who turns up in Hamilton this Friday night for round four? Those pesky Reds, and in the same boat as last March. Played three, lost three.

The Chiefs came home with a rush of points last year, but fell short of the playoffs, and that 20-6 loss to the Reds was a critical factor in that.

So no slipups will be the order of the day this week after the Chiefs gave a glimpse of what they might achieve this season in beating the Force 26-9, providing their backs are given sufficient room and opportunities to show their capabilities.

Their first win of the season over the distinctly ordinary competition newcomers in Perth was far from blemish-free, but it included three fine tries by the backs - one a well-worked orthodox move creating enough space for winger Sitiveni Sivivatu to finish it off expertly at the corner; one a clever piece of play by Sosene Anesi, coming into the line to set up Mils Muliaina with an overlap run to the line; and the other an early contender for try of the competition and which effectively ensured the win.

Anesi gathered a kick on the Chiefs' 22 and sliced through the defence up the middle of the park. Sivivatu made ground, while Marty Holah was on hand to ensure momentum wasn't lost before quick hands gave Mark Ranby a 20m sprint to the line down the left.

It was the pace and attacking thrust of Anesi, Muliaina and Sivivatu which caught the eye, along with another display of pugnacious defensive power from second five-eighth Sam Tuitupou, who has hit the ground running since his move south from the Blues.

The pack enjoyed the better of territory and possession and were able to get some decent momentum into their pick and go work against opponents who were on the run before halftime.

On the debit side, the Force took four lineouts off Chiefs throw-ins and there will be concerns over the goalkicking, where Stephen Donald, after bagging his first two shots, had an ordinary night with four out of eight.

John Mitchell has his hands full at the Force. When he watches the tapes and sees how often his players kicked the ball aimlessly and out on the full he'll be banging his head on the nearest wall.

If it wasn't for a wholehearted defensive effort and the sterling work of captain Nathan Sharpe, who was outstanding, it would have been all over by halftime.

The Chiefs have their next two games at home before a bye in week six. They'll know they should have returned from their three-game overseas trip with more than five points to show for it.

But if they are able to treat that as their wonky patch for the season, they can be optimistic about the weeks ahead.