A dominant first half has delivered the Chiefs a 50-35 win over Moana Pasifika in Round 6 of Super Rugby Pacific in Pukekohe.
It was all the Chiefs in the opening 40 minutes as they blitzed their opposition before having to endure some unexpected nervy moments in the second half on Friday night at Navigation Homes Stadium.
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The Chiefs began with four unanswered tries as hooker Bradley Slater nabbed the opener after some nice hands from Damian McKenzie and Shaun Stevenson.
The pair combined for the next try when Stevenson sliced through the defence for his first try since his return from Japan. It gave the Chiefs a 17-0 lead, and they were far from done.
Tries to halfback Xavier Roe and wing Leroy Carter extended the lead as Moana Pasifika captain Tom Savage could only watch from the bench after a yellow card.
Despite the numbers disadvantage, Moana Pasifika hit back after 32 minutes when Pepesana Patafilo burst through the line, setting up William Havili to slide over the line.
But the first half was all the Chiefs as McKenzie and Manaaki Selby-Rickit crossed for a 43-7 half time lead.
Moana Pasifika unleashed their bench at the break and paid remarkable dividends.
Replacements Sama Malolo and Tuna Tuitama both scored as the hosts started to gain belief.
They scored 28 unanswered points as the Chiefs were caught napping after their fast start.
Havili’s second try, thanks to an intercept, suddenly had Chiefs fans nervous as the margin reduced to eight points with six minutes remaining.
Ultimately, it was too much to overcome, with Samisoni Taukei’aho’s rolling maul try with two minutes to go sealing the win, without a bonus point.
Regardless, the Chiefs will go into the bye in first place, eight points clear of the second-placed Crusaders.
Last-placed Moana Pasifika face a trip to Christchurch next weekend to take on the Crusaders.
Chiefs 50 (Bradley Slater, Shaun Stevenson, Xavier Roe, Leroy Carter, Manaaki Selby-Rickit, Damian McKenzie, Samisoni Taukei’aho tries; Damian McKenzie 6 con, pen) Moana Pasifika 35 (William Havili 2, Abraham Pole, Sama Malolo, Tuna Tuitama tries; Patrick Pellegrini 5 con). HT: 43-7