Chiefs defeat Reds in top-of-table clash
- Dave Worsley
- Apr 5
- 2 min read
The Chiefs have moved into Super Rugby Pacific's top spot after edging the Queensland Reds 27-15 in a tough battle.
Damian McKenzie's boot proved the difference - accounting for 12 points - as both teams scored three tries in the driving rain in the top-of-the-table clash at Hamilton's FMG Stadium Waikato on Friday night.
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In wing Shaun Stevenson's 100th Super Rugby match for the Chiefs, captain Luke Jacobson, reserve hooker Samisoni Taukei'aho and replacement halfback Xavier Roe crossed the line for last year's beaten finalists.
McKenzie went perfect off the tee, kicking three conversions and two penalties, while Queensland's Harry McLaughlin-Phillips and Tom Lynagh combined to miss all three conversion attempts in the wet.
Jacobson got the Chiefs on the board just three minutes into the match, running one-off a ruck in the shadow of the posts and muscling his way over through the tackle attempts of three Reds players.
The Reds, coming in as Super Rugby's leading side for the first time since 2012, hit back through hooker Matt Faessler and flanker Joe Brial, while McKenzie added his first penalty as the teams went to the break level at 10-10.
There were question marks over Brial's grounding but they were waved away by the television match official, who was thrust into the spotlight again after the break when McLaughlin-Phillips beat the line and was awarded the try as he slid onto the line.
But the five-pointer was reversed when the TMO adjudged the first-five to have lost the ball before reaching the line.
Former Hurricanes prop Jeffrey Toomaga-Allen was yellow-carded in the 42nd minute for making high contact at a ruck but the Chiefs could not capitalise with the man-advantage. However, McKenzie did kick his second penalty to put the home side ahead 13-10.
The Reds' resilience continued with key defensive plays from Brial, Fraser McReight, Harry Wilson and Filipo Daugunu to stall the host's charge.
But eventually their line was breached for a second time when Taukei'aho rolled over behind a maul in the 71st minute, before Roe's try iced the contest for the hosts. Wilson showed his class with a left-footed grubber to gift Lynagh a Reds try in injury-time.
"It was a sloppy scene out there," Jacobson said post-match. "We've just got to be clinical. It's tough in weather like this but you don't make excuses and there was some awesome play out there tonight, so we've got to be happy."
In Round 9, the Chiefs (6-0-1, 26 points) head to Sydney to take on the fifth-placed NSW Waratahs on Friday (kick-off 9.35pm NZ Time, while the Reds (5-0-2, 23 points) must regroup ahead of a home clash with the fourth-placed ACT Brumbies next Saturday.
Chiefs 27 (Luke Jacobson, Samisoni Taukei'aho, Xavier Roe tries; Damian McKenzie 3 con, 2 pen) Queensland Reds 15 (Matt Faessler, Joe Brial, Tom Lynagh tries). HT: 10-10
