Chiefs overwhelm Hurricanes to maintain unbeaten record

Chiefs’ Pita Gus Sowakula scores to help his side keep their unbeaten record.
Photo: Photosport

The Chiefs have kept their unbeaten Super Rugby record intact with a comprehensive 33-17 win over the Hurricanes in Wellington.

The Chiefs sit at the top of the competition points table, unbeaten in all seven matches having kept the Hurricanes scoreless in the second half.

In a rare afternoon match the Chiefs opened the scoring with a classy move from inside their own half after turning over possession.

The ball went along the Chiefs backline, with fullback Shaun Stevenson scorching down the touchline and offloading to winger Emoni Narawa who then chipped inside for centre Daniel Rona to dot down.

The Hurricanes though responded from the kickoff with flanker Devan Flanders dotting down in the corner to give the home side a 7-5 lead with Jordie Barrett converting the try.

The two sides then traded penalties to make it 10-8 to the Hurricanes.

In a fast paced match that saw both teams guilty of turning over possession, it was the Chiefs whose ill discipline who cost them dearly.

The Hurricanes scored a second time with halfback Cam Roigard crossing almost untouched to put the home side further in front 15-8 ten minutes from halftime, with the coversion extending that to 17-8, which is the way it stayed until halftime.

The Chiefs started the second half strongly, scoring first through the Gus Sowakula to reduce the deficit to two points with McKenzie adding the conversion to make is 17-15.

Chiefs’ Damian McKenzie scores one of this side’s three second half tries against the Hurricanes.
Photo: Marty Melville

The Chiefs continued the attacking momentum and a penalty a couple of minutes later saw them have the chance to retake the lead but McKenzie missed a relatively straightforward shot at goal.

Both sides were again guilty of coughing up possession when finding themselves in good attacking positions.

McKenzie didn’t miss when given another penalty chance straight out in front of the posts midway through the second half and the Chiefs regained the lead 18-17.

From there in the Chiefs dominated territory and possession.

Replacement Chiefs halfback Cortez Ratima immediately injected himself into the game when he replaced Brad Weber, forcing his way over from a five metre scrum as the Chiefs extended the lead to 25-17.

An almost 50 metre penalty to McKenzie then made it 28-17.

With ten minutes to go the Hurricanes finally found a spark to re-ignite their efforts.

They spent five minutes on attack camped inside the Chiefs 22 but unable to convert the territory and possession into points with the Chiefs ultimately breaking out and Damien McKenzie scoring to make it 33-17 which was the final score.

The Chiefs play the Brumbies next round while the Hurricanes have a bye.

-RNZ