Chiefs fend off Highlanders
The Waikato Chiefs overcame a 7-6 half-time deficit to defeat the Otago Highlanders 20-7 in Hamilton.
Last Updated: 07/05/11 12:58pm
The Waikato Chiefs overcame a 7-6 half-time deficit to upset the Otago Highlanders 20-7 in an attritional battle in Hamilton.
Stephen Donald kicked two first-half penalties and also converted Brendon Leonard's try soon after the break to become only the seventh player to surpass 800 points in the history of the Super rugby competition.
Tim Nanai-Williams added the extras after Liam Messam's late score to finally kill off the Highlanders' hopes of a comeback.
The visitors had held a slender advantage at the midway point of the contest after Robbie Robinson had converted Jason Rutledge's try.
Fly-half Lima Sopoaga created the opportunity with a burst through the defensive line before finding the support he needed from hooker Rutledge, who simply had to catch the floated pass to finish things off.
Missed chances
Full-back Robinson was on target with the conversion but failed to land two further attempts at goal before the break.
Those misses proved costly for Otago - who lost flanker Adam Thomson to injury during the second half - as they conceded a try within three minutes of the game getting back under way.
Scrum-half Leonard went over from close range and with Donald adding to his earlier penalties with the conversion, the Chiefs had their noses in front.
But, like their opponents, they too were guilty of missing out on points when opportunities came their way.
Donald missed a penalty after 56 minutes before then dropping a difficult pass when he had the line at his mercy. The number 10 - a possible candidate to be Dan Carter's understudy in the New Zealand squad for the World Cup - was then forced off through injury 15 minutes from time.
Still, the hosts sealed their fourth win of the campaign when Messam touched down with just two minutes remaining, with sub Nanai-Williams converting.
Defeat damages the Highlanders' play-off hopes and they will hope to get their campaign back on track against Wellington Hurricanes next weekend.
