Waikato Chiefs flanker Scott Waldrom scored two first-half tries to inspire the New Zealanders to a 34-30 win over the Lions on Saturday in their Super rugby match.
In a game between the bottom teams in the South African and New Zealand conferences, the visitors outscored their hosts by five tries to three to kick off their two-match African tour in style.
It was the Chiefs’ third win in nine outings while the Lions suffered their ninth loss in 10 matches under former All Blacks coach John Mitchell.
“To get a win like this was pretty pleasing,” said Chiefs skipper Mils Muliaina. “Any team that comes over here must win the physical battle and we did that tonight.”
Last year’s corresponding match at the same venue produced an extraordinary 72-65 win for the Chiefs, but this was an altogether tighter affair between two sides who stand little chance of advancing to the play-offs.
As was the case in last year’s 137-point affair, the result was in the balance until the final whistle when a last-gasp Lions attack was snuffed out just a few metres from the Chiefs’ line.
The Lions opened up an early 6-0 lead via two penalties from flyhalf Burton Francis but the visitors wrested the initiative back with two tries in the space of eight minutes by flanker Waldrom.
The opensider struck in the 22nd minute when he burrowed over from close range before running a perfect angle from first receiver to score from 20 metres out on the half hour.
Mazy run
Flyhalf Stephen Donald converted to make it 12-6, but the Lions were soon in the lead once again when fullback Michael Killian darted over following a mazy cross-field run from winger Lionel Mapoe after he expertly fielded an attempted touch-finder.
Francis’s conversion looked to have given the Lions a morale-boosting one-point lead at the break but the Chiefs had other ideas, lock Romana Graham picking up from a ruck in injury time and stretching over for his team’s third try.
Francis cut the deficit to three points when he slotted a third penalty in the 44th minute. The Chiefs replied with a bonus-point try to prop forward Toby Smith with half an hour left.
The Lions’ poor defence, which has been their downfall all season, was in evidence once again when Chiefs winger Lelia Masaga cut through with ease from a lineout move before passing to centre Dwayne Sweeney to finish off.
Donald added his third conversion to increase the lead to 15 points. The Lions refused to throw in the towel, replacement flanker Josh Strauss barging over on the hour for his team’s second try.
Flanker and former skipper Cobus Grobbelaar dotted down from a lineout drive with eight minutes left to make it a one-point game before Donald ensured much-needed breathing breathing room for his tiring troops with a 76th-minute penalty.
“We spoke this week about letting in too many soft tries and it happened again today,” said Lions captain Doppies la Grange. “I think the guys need a break.” – Reuters