Chiefs beat Sharks in Super 15

HAMILTON, New Zealand (AFP) –

Waikato Chiefs’ Aaron Cruden looks to pass the ball during the Super Rugby match against the Cheetahs in Hamilton on March 2, 2013. A powerful opening burst laid the foundations for the Waikato Chiefs’ 37-29 victory over the Coastal Sharks in a re-run of last year’s Super 15 final.

A powerful opening burst laid the foundations for the Waikato Chiefs’ 37-29 victory over the Coastal Sharks here Saturday in a re-run of last year’s Super 15 final.

The victory saw the Chiefs arrest a two-match losing streak and overtake the Auckland Blues at the head of the New Zealand conference while the injury-ravaged Sharks slumped to their third consecutive loss.

Both sides took a four-try bonus point from the match, which was as much a reflection of fragile defensive systems as it was a testimony to their attacking intent.

But the Sharks were denied an additional bonus point when Aaron Cruden kicked a penalty on full-time to extend the winning margin past the seven-point margin.

Neither side bore any resemblance to the losing units of a week ago with the Sharks making 11 changes at the start of a tough Australasian tour and the Chiefs changing 10 including the late withdrawal of Richard Kahui.

Despite the re-arranged line-up, the Chiefs quickly picked apart a fragmented Sharks defence and raced to a 24-0 lead in 15 minutes, continuing their dominance in last year’s final which they won 37-6.

But by half-time, the Sharks had recovered to narrow the gap to 24-19 and with full-time on the clock they were within striking distance of an unlikely win as they trailed 34-29 before Cruden’s telling final penalty.

“At the start of our game we were accurate and did some good things but maybe we slipped because it was a bit too easy,” said Chiefs captain Craig Clarke who acknowledged the Sharks were underpowered.

“It was disappointing from our point of view to let them come back but credit to them for showing fight for a team that was disjointed by injury.”

The Chiefs launched their opening try-scoring spree with a set lineout move where the ball was thrown over the back and Asaeli Tikoirotuma came off his wing to take an in-pass from Liam Messam and slice through the Sharks defence.

Messam featured again when he bullocked his way through three tackles before off-loading to Bundee Aki for the second try and Tim Nanai-Williams snapped up a loose pass from Pieter-Steph du Toit to scamper 55 metres for the third.

But by half-time the margin was down to five points as the Sharks’ new combinations began to gel.

Flanker Derick Minnie, on loan from the Lions to prop up the Sharks’ numbers, scored twice from lineout drives and Lubabalo Mtembu, making his run-on debut, crashed over after Patrick Lambie had drawn Cruden off his line.

In the second half Nanai-Williams touched down for a second time with Gareth Anscombe adding a conversion and penalty before Cruden’s final three-pointer.

Keegan Daniel scored the Sharks bonus-point try with Lambie landing the conversion and a penalty.