Chiefs get third win on the road

by Brenden Nel | 27 February 2010 (14:55)

Lelia Masaga © Getty Images

The Chiefs continued their impressive start to this year’s Vodacom Super 14 when they downed the Western Force 37-19 in Perth.

Blow-by-blow scoring

Last season’s finalists pulled away in the last 20 minutes after the Force did well in the first 60, and had just too much firepower for their opponents to cap an excellent three-game tour to start the competition.

After victories over the Sharks and the Lions, the Chiefs can now return home for their first game in Hamilton knowing they are well placed for the rest of the competition.

The Force look in desperate trouble, without a point after three rounds, and now will have a week’s break before they can search for their first point for the tournament.

Ironically the two crucial blows to the Force came from lost lineouts, as they gave two tries away which swung the game in the favour of the visitors.

Their first try came after Stephen Donald and James O’Connor swopped early penalties. A stolen lineout sent the ball to Brendon Leonard, who followed his kick ahead and collected, sending the ball inside to Hikawera Elliot, who, in turn, did a one-two with Nathan White to run in for an easy score.

After another Donald penalty took the Chiefs further ahead, two penalties from O’Connor and one from Sheehan on either side of the break brought the Force to 13-12 down, and looking to take the lead for the first time.

But another Donald penalty, followed by another lineout steal took the game away from them. The ball was taken off the Force by Romana Graham, and the ball spun to Dwayne Sweeney, who made the initial break to put Callum Bruce in the gap. Bruce in turn fired a long pass wide to Lelia Masaga, who celebrated his return to the field with a magnificent try.

Colin Bourke scored shortly afterwards for the Chiefs, before Ryan Cross intercepted to give some more respectability to the Force scoreline.

Substitute Tim Nanai-Williams burrowed through the defence to seal the game, with Donald converting to finish off another exceptional kicking performance with 17 points on the night.

Scorers:
Western Force - Try: Ryan Cross. Conversion: James O`Connor. Penalties: O`Connor (3), Brett Sheehan.
Chiefs - Try :Hikawera Elliot, Lelia Masaga, Colin Bourke, Tim Nanai-Williams. Conversion: Stephen Donald (4). Penalties: Donald (3).

Read more on the Super 14 page.