Chiefs open their account
The Chiefs registered their first victory of the new Super Rugby season with a 38-10 mauling of the Melbourne Rebels.
Last Updated: 05/03/11 11:36am
The Chiefs registered their first victory of the new Super Rugby season with a 38-10 mauling of the Melbourne Rebels at Waikato Stadium.
Winger Lelia Masaga bagged a brace of tries, the second of which clinched his side a bonus point in the closing minutes of the contest in Hamilton.
Stephen Donald kicked 18 points in difficult conditions as the Chiefs, who bossed possession and were dominant at the breakdown, ended a six-match home losing streak in emphatic fashion.
The only disappointment for the hosts was the loss of skipper and All Blacks full-back Mils Muliaina with a lower back injury after 20 minutes.
As for the Rebels, they grabbed a try from Gareth Delve in the second half but they were well beaten a week after breaking their own duck against the Brumbies.
Looked good
The visitors looked good early on, though, and would have scored the opening try had Julian Huxley not knocked on a few metres out from the line.
Leading up to half time there was only three points between the teams; Donald's second penalty after 30 minutes putting the Chiefs ahead again after Danny Cipriani had cancelled out an earlier effort from the Kiwi fly-half.
However the game changed once winger Sivi Sivivatu grabbed the opening try after 34 minutes. Donald added the conversion and a further penalty to make it 16-3 to the Chiefs at the break.
A high tackle by Cipriani on the outstanding Tana Umaga gave away three more points soon after the re-start before a second Chiefs try arrived, Masaga crashing through full-back Mark Gerrard to get over on the right.
The Rebels responded with a score of their own through former Wales international Delve, who picked up a loose ball at a ruck and forced his way through a pile of bodies.
But any hopes of a late comeback were snuffed out when substitute Sona Taumalolo came off the bench to cross from close range in the 66th minute.
Masaga completed an excellent night for the Chiefs with a stunning fourth try at the death, the speedster bursting clear down the right from deep in his own half and just about having enough in the legs to reach the corner.
