The Chiefs leapt into the Super 12 top four with a dominant 29-14 rugby win over South Africa’s Stormers at Waikato Stadium in Hamilton on Friday.
The Chiefs, who have never made the Super 12 playoffs, recovered strongly from their trip back from South Africa by scoring four tries including a double to flying left wing Sitiveni Sivivatu.
It lifted the Chiefs temporarily ahead of the Crusaders and Sharks to third on the points table, while the disappointing Stormers remained second despite missing a bonus point.
It was a far cry from the Stormers’ rampaging 51-23 win over the defending champions, the Blues, in Auckland a week ago.
The home side were missing key men Keith Robinson and Keith Lowen through injury but took control immediately.
They held the ball for almost the entire first half, and the Stormers were lucky to trail just 7-15 at the break.
Blockbusting number eight Sione Lauaki was outstanding and played a big part in most of Chiefs’ attacks, while halves Byron Kelleher and Glen Jackson kicked smartly for position.
Kelleher continued his top form with the opening try from a solo 20m burst in the 14th minute, before Sivivatu scored his first, eight minutes later, after a sideline break by second five-eighth Mark Ranby.
The Stormers stayed in touch with a try to strong running centre Marius Joubert just before the break, but it was a rare foray into the Chiefs’ 22m zone.
Sivivatu’s second from a 40m run gave the Chiefs a handy 22-7 lead with 30 minutes left, and they repelled a wave of Stormers attacks before centre Derek Maisey sealed it with an intercept try four minutes from time.
The visitors scored a consolation try to lock Willem Stoltz on the full-time siren. — Sapa-NZPA