The injury-plagued Waikato Chiefs steamrolled the error-ridden Lions 34-7 in Hamilton on Friday to register their first win in this season’s Super 14 rugby series.
The Chiefs were spurred by feisty flyhalf Stephen Donald, who scored two tries, the tactical smarts of inside centre Tasesa Lavea and a never-say-die forward pack missing most of its big names.
Play was often scrappy but in the end the home side ran in five tries to one, and were unlucky not to score at least two more.
As well as several missing All Blacks, injuries meant the absence of Chiefs captain Jono Gibbes, centre Richard Kahui, utility back Soseni Anesi, flanker Stephen Bates and lock Keith Robinson.
But the Chiefs looked less makeshift than the South Africans, who were unable to maintain any attacking momentum due to poor handling and frequent turnovers.
”The basic stuff cost us,” skipper Andre Pretorius said.
The New Zealand side have a small chance of bringing themselves back into Super 14 contention after a dreadful start to the season, which returned just a draw from their first five matches.
”It’s nice to come into the shed with a win under our belts after what have been some tough times for us,” stand-in Chiefs captain Tom Willis said.
Little went right for the Lions, who attempted to play a tight game, using their bigger forward pack to bulldoze through the Chiefs defence.
But their few attacking opportunities fizzled out amid handling errors and turnovers at crucial times.
The enterprising Chiefs made more of their chances with Donald opening the scoring after nine minutes, toeing through a chip kick from halfback Brendon Leonard to force down the ball in the corner.
Lions number eight Jacques Cronje was yellow-carded after 21 minutes and the home side immediately capitalised, with flanker Marty Holah diving through a Chiefs’ driving maul to score.
Neither try was converted but an early Donald penalty ensured the Chiefs a 13-0 half-time advantage.
Donald added another try nine minutes into the second spell, thanks to a turnover courtesy of former All Black Holah.
The South Africans hit back with six minutes remaining with flyhalf Andre Pretorius converting his own try.
But any hopes of further reducing the deficit in the dying minutes were snuffed out when Chiefs number eight Liam Messam finished off a move sparked by yet another Lions turnover in their own territory.
The embarrassment was compounded in the final minute when outside centre Tane Tuipulotu intercepted a loose Lions pass and ran more than 80m to score. — AFP
