Tight tussle: Chiefs get the job done
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The Highlanders remain winless in 2013 after suffering a 19-7 defeat at the hands of the Chiefs at Waikato Stadium on Friday.
It was a case of close but no cigar once again for the visitors, who were still in the hunt with twenty minutes of a tight Super Rugby tussle remaining.
However, Chiefs full-back Gareth Anscombe gave his team some breathing space with two late penalties to seal the win and deny the Highlanders a consolation bonus point.
Both sides managed just one try apiece, with Anscombe's boot ultimately proving the difference between the two sides as Colin Slade failed in the goal-kicking department - missing three of his four kicks.
Having trailed 13-7 at half-time, the Highlanders also failed to post any points in the second half and remain stranded at the bottom of the New Zealand conference.
The Chiefs, meanwhile, are now just two points adrift of the tournament-leading Brumbies and will be hoping the Stormers do them a favour in Cape Town on Saturday.
The defending champions were on the board first through an Anscombe penalty which was followed by an opportunistic try from Tim Nanai-Williams to put them 10-0 in front after 10 minutes.
The Chiefs centre pounced on a Highlanders knock-on, collected the loose ball and raced half the length of the field to score a converted try.
From then on it was all the Highlanders though as they piled on the pressure, having dominated possession and territory. Slade missed two penalties, but they were finally rewarded when Aaron Smith burrowed over in the 20th minute. Slade's conversion closed the gap to three points.
A yellow card to Highlanders flank Jarrad Hoeata allowed Anscombe to stretch the Chiefs' lead to a six-point margin at half-time, and the home side's kicking machine continued to find his target after the break with a string of penalties to inflict yet another loss on their Kiwi rivals.
The scorers:
For Chiefs:
Try: Nanai-Williams
Con: Anscombe
Pens: Anscombe 4
For Highlanders:
Try: A Smith
Con: Slade
Chiefs: 15 Gareth Anscombe, 14 Lelia Masaga, 13 Tim Nanai-Williams, 12 Andrew Horrell, 11 Asaeli Tikoirotuma, 10 Aaron Cruden, 9 Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 8 Nick Crosswell, 7 Sam Cane, 6 Liam Messam (c), 5 Brodie Retallick, 4 Michael Fitzgerald, 3 Ben Tameifuna, 2 Hika Elliot, 1 Pauliasi Manu.
Replacements: 16 Rhys Marshall, 17 Ben Afeaki, 18 Romana Graham/Fritz Lee, 19 Tanerau Latimer, 20 August Pulu, 21 Charlie Ngatai, 22 Richard Kahui/Patrick Osborne.
Highlanders: 15 Ben Smith, 14 Kade Poki, 13 Jason Emery, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 Hosea Gear, 10 Colin Slade, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Elliot Dixon, 7 John Hardie, 6 Jarrad Hoeata, 5 Josh Bekhuis, 4 Brad Thorn (c), 3 Chris King, 2 Liam Coltman, 1 Tony Woodcock.
Replacements: 16 Jason Rutledge, 17 Bronson Murray, 18 Joe Wheeler, 19 Tim Boys, 20 Frae Wilson, 21 Lima Sopoaga, 22 Phil Burleigh.
Referee: Jonathon White (New Zealand)
Comments
tha_mai says...
bad news for Kerr-Barlow and the Chiefs, he broke his jaw in this match and out till early May. Imagine that - a halfback unable to talk!
A real pity as he'd have been in the running for the June tests, along with Smith, Weepu, Perenara, Ellis, Leonard. At least not an area of shortage for NZ right now.
Posted 10:05 23rd March 2013
theGadflY says...
when I go through these posts I get the feeling that the only game Reds have played thus far was last year against chiefs,oh but wait a minute,didn't they play against the Force this year????
Posted 06:25 23rd March 2013
passtheball says...
The Chiefs did the business after the flight back and playing on the Friday! They are not playing that well still and Kerr Barlow is now out with a broken jaw, just as he was starting to look very good.
Richard Kahui looks like a giant amongst the Chiefs backs who are mostly small by S15 standards. He is already adding another dimension to their back play with his size, speed and rugby nous. Fingers crossed for no injuries.
Posted 05:14 23rd March 2013
Ramage says...
@trinuts I know its hard for someone who spells beer as xxxx to understand that a competition is just that it is a series of games played to find who can win the most and then in the play offs take out your opponents in the knockouts. It is not based on one isolated game. Can I remiond you that it is the Chiefs and not the Rudds who won the 2012 Super Competition. Also may I remind you that the Rudds only managed to make the playoffs because of the O'Neill conference system which allowed a winner of a very weak conference to enter the play offs when clearly behind others on points. Enough of all these injury excuses we've heard it all before whinge whinge whinge. the competition is a long haul all teams have their injuries and have to deal with them, if the conditioning of the Rudds is substandard then deal with it but dont come on here week after week moaning and whinging as its tiresome.
As far as my post about knives, laptops and murders you once again completely miss the point. However that is understandable as we all realise you are not the full quid and we sympathise with you accordingly. Oh and by the way good luck to you when Graham gets full control of the Rudds when McKenzie moves on.
Posted 00:38 23rd March 2013
2eyedkiwi says...
I think its awesome that Trinats4 pays more attention and makes more comments on NZ rugby teams/games than anyone else.
We appreciate your support and obvious respect mate - keep it up!
As for "The Cheats" and "lowlanders". Sheer genius that. You must have been working on that one for years...
Posted 23:18 22nd March 2013
Trinats2 says...
Ramage
Did Collins steal a laptop in Brisbane ! was he the "Asian student" that Cooper took it back off !!!
ruckingkiwi
The chiefs would have to lose at least 7 more players to injury to be in the position the Reds were in last year. And speaking of last year, how did the Cheifs go against the one hit wonders the Reds ?
Posted 21:20 22nd March 2013
ruckingkiwi says...
This was a potential banana skin after the trip back from SA but good to see the Chiefs are keeping things going and not blow-out one-season wonders like the Reds
Posted 20:51 22nd March 2013
Trader2 says...
Same old story, close but no cigars. Highlanders did all the creating, crucial mistakes and lacking a form goal kicker was pretty telling. Never mind easy game next week against the Reds rabble.
Posted 12:35 22nd March 2013
ArmchairGeneral says...
Thegreatone: if it had been Tindall it would have been a plot to kill the queen; high treason. Get over yourself.
Posted 12:10 22nd March 2013
Ramage says...
Interesting moment was when the Highlanders scored their try helped by Hoeata holding Messam and taking him out of play. The laugh was referee Jonathan White's reply when challenged about it on returning to halfway where he claimed We didnt think it was so. Thank god the man is refereeing rugby and no longer practicing medicine as I wouldn't like to see the likes of him operating on anyone.
Good to see Richard Kahui back on the field of play as he certainly still shows a lot of class. Some pretty awesome defence shown through out the game despite assertions from a Rudd supporter. Methinks the Rudds could be struggling without the likes of Gill there but at the same time the return of Horwill might just halt the descent of the Rudds into the rabble they are fast becoming.
Posted 11:40 22nd March 2013
Ramage says...
Of Course it would, O thou The Great One. We all know the bias of Planet Rugby and in fact the whole of the Rugby media against anything or anyone who happens to even have a sniff of being South African or even worse a Bok. I know this because my dear old grandmother told me she once was courted by a Bok of yesteryear and was for ever after that tainted. When will this persecution end O thou The Great One?
Could I suggest if you cant get any news of this terrible action by Collins then O thou The Great One you google some NZ Newspapers and there you can feast on all the sordid details, which Im sure will whet your appetite. Meanwhile perhaps the editor is taking the view after chastising many a contributor on this site that he wants to see stories about rugby games on here. If we want to read about rugby players carrying knives in Japan or stealing laptops in Brisbane or even murdering people in South Africa, then I'm sure the daily press will be able to cater for our basest needs and there we can all have a frenzied feed of such information.
Posted 11:21 22nd March 2013
rugbylover says...
@TheGreatOne
Well, obviously YOU noticed.......................
Happy?
Posted 10:48 22nd March 2013
Maxgzy says...
http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,3551_8572744,00.html ... You really are a vindictive tw@t
Posted 10:09 22nd March 2013
tweedledee49 says...
notsogreatone....if you opened your other eye you probably wouldve noticed this article:
http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,3551_8572744,00.html
Posted 09:51 22nd March 2013
Trinats2 says...
"The Chiefs, meanwhile, are now just one point adrift of the tournament-leading Brumbies and will be hoping the Stormers do them a favour in Cape Town on Saturday"
Is there no number 22 in South Africa ? Elsewhere there is, and there is a two point difference !!!
Posted 09:32 22nd March 2013
Trinats2 says...
What shape is a sheep gate ? Is it a semi circle ? Just asking, as the Cheats entered the ruck at every angle and got away with it. Hard luck lowlanders.
Posted 09:27 22nd March 2013
Wallaroo says...
@TheUselessOne, reasearch before you make a total idoit of yourself. Not ignored or passed over whatsoever. http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,3551_8572744,00.html
Posted 09:17 22nd March 2013
tha_mai says...
the GreatMoron - back under your rock; this is a rugby thread
Poor show from both teams I thought, luck and no luck would sum it up, that Chiefs try a fluke, then Highlanders held up, held up, Chris King just short, Slade's crap goal kicking; great defence from Chiefs, but overall doubt they'd have much to be pleased about apart from four more points.
Posted 09:15 22nd March 2013
TheGreatOne says...
Why is PR ignoring the bizarre arrest of Jerry Collins in Japan. If it had been a "yarpie" and former Bok who had been arrested for carrying banned weapons and exhibiting odd behaviour it would have been the top story for days on end.
Posted 09:00 22nd March 2013