Chiefs edge New Plymouth thriller
Despite being outscored by three tries to two, the Chiefs managed to cement their place at the top of the Super Rugby standings through the boot of All Black flyhalf Aaron Cruden – a who kicked a conversion and four penalties.
Despite getting off to a fast start, the Sharks kept coming back – drawing level (15-all) at half-time and closing the gap to just two points in the final 10 minutes.
It appeared the Chiefs would run away with the game when Seta Tamanivalu scored in the first minute – a simple set-piece move from a line-out.
Tamanivalu ripped through some lax defence with the first real opportunity to cross by the posts.
However, the Sharks managed top drag the Chiefs into a kicking contest and slowed the game down to their pace – allowing them to not just get back in the game, but draw level and come close to an upset.
Young Garth April steadied the ship with a penalty.
Cruden instantly replied off the tee with his first penalty and after Michael Leitch's try in the corner the Chiefs looked well in control.
It was Cruden who supplied the crucial pass, his looping ball over the top of the Sharks defence finding the Japan captain out by the touchline as he did well to collect the ball in the air before grounding it infield.
The conversion attempt by Cruden was wide, but the Chiefs looked comfortable at 15-3.
Turning to the power of their maul the Sharks won a penalty within kicking range, but instead went to the corner – where Kyle Cooper finished off an efficient rolling maul for the Sharks' first try.
April stepped up for the conversion, before the youngster made a bigger impact on the match – a fine solo try from the 24-year-old showing off his footwork and speed as he did enough to hold off the Chiefs defence to score.
Unable to convert from out wide, the scores were tied at 15-all going into half-time.
Cruden restored the lead with a second penalty, after Cooper was penalised for offside, early in the second half.
A third penalty from the All Blacks flyhalf followed as the Sharks failed to gain the territory required to keep the Chiefs at bay, a magical kick and chase from Brad Weber putting him in a footrace with Willie le Roux which the Springbok won, but only by carrying the ball over his own line.
Continually the Sharks defence coughed up penalties under huge pressure from the hosts, Cruden landing his fourth penalty with ten minutes to go to make it 24-15.
Now the Sharks, one of the lowest try scorers in the competition, had to score twice in order to turn the result their way and grabbed one from that trusty rolling maul – Cooper's replacement Chiliboy Ralepelle this time the one to enjoy the armchair ride over the line – with April's conversion having cut the deficit to just two points at 22-24.
But they couldn't complete the comeback, with the Chiefs opting to keep the ball in hand inside the Sharks' 22 in the closing minutes to wind down the clock and pick up yet another win.
Sharks captain Keegan Daniel said afterwards that he was disappointed in the result but proud of his team's fortitude.
"We hung in there at 15-3 down and stuck it out," Daniel said.
"Our discipline probably let us down, we let them off the hook.
"Credit to the guys, we never gave up, we were still in it with 10 minutes to go."
Man of the match: Garth April once again showed that he is a player for the future, while the Du Preez twins – Daniel and Jean-Luc – were at their brutal best. Damien McKenzie had his moments, but were largely well-marked. Michael Leitch was a bundle of energy, Sam Cane was a workhorse and Brodie Retallick showed why he is rated as one of the best locks in the world. However, out award goes to Chiefs flyhalf Aaron Cruden, who is fast regaining his best form and directed the ship to victory.
The scorers:
For the Chiefs:
Tries: Tamanivalu, Leitch
Con: Cruden
Pens: Cruden 4
For the Sharks:
Tries: Cooper, April, Ralepelle
Cons: April 2
Pen: April
Teams:
Chiefs: 15 Damian McKenzie, 14 Toni Pulu, 13 Seta Tamanivalu, 12 Anton Lienert-Brown, 11 Sam McNicol, 10 Aaron Cruden (co-captain), 9 Brad Weber, 8 Michael Leitch, 7 Sam Cane (co-captain), 6 Taleni Seu, 5 Brodie Retallick, 4 Dominic Bird, 3 Hiroshi Yamashita, 2 Hika Elliot, 1 Mitchell Graham.
Replacements: 16 Nathan Harris, 17 Siate Tokolahi, 18 Kane Hames, 19 James Tucker, 20 Lachlan Boshier, 21 Kayne Hammington, 22 Andrew Horrell, 23 Shaun Stevenson.
Sharks: 15 Willie Le Roux, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Paul Jordaan, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Garth April, 9 Michael Claassens, 8 Daniel du Preez, 7 Jean-Luc du Preez, 6 Keegan Daniel (captain), 5 Stephan Lewies, 4 Etienne Oosthuizen, 3 Lourens Adriaanse, 2 Kyle Cooper, 1 Dale Chadwick.
Replacements: 16 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 17 Thomas du Toit, 18 Coenie Oosthuizen, 19 Hyron Andrews, 20 Jean Deysel, 21 Stefan Ungerer, 22 Joe Pietersen, 23 Odwa Ndungane.
Referee: Chris Pollock (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Jamie Nutbrown (New Zealand), Angus Mabey (New Zealand)
TMO: Glenn Newman (New Zealand)
