The Chiefs beat the Melbourne Rebels 36-26 in an entertaining Super Rugby Trans-Tasman clash at Leichhardt Oval, Sydney.
The Chiefs scored six tries but failed to claim a bonus point in Sydney, and with that, saw their Super Rugby Trans-Tasman final chances disappear.
The Waikato men are back to winning ways after a convincing, although close 10-point victory over the winless Melbourne Rebels.
Kaleb Trask, Anton Lienert-Brown, and Chase Tiatia all bagged braces for the Chiefs.
Trask and Lienert-Brown also assisted in Tiatia’s two tries as the Hamilton men got back to winning ways.
Isi Naisarani dotted down twice for the Melbourne Rebels, he was immense.
The 26-year-old No. 8 had a barnstorming game, running for 88 metres off 17 carries beating five defenders.
Stacey Ili and Andrew Kellaway also found their way over the whitewash for the Victorian franchise.
Marika Koroibete is still yet to score a try in Super Rugby AU or the Trans-Tasman tournament, his tries have been missed.
The Rebels, playing away from AAMI Park due to Covid-19 restrictions and the closed New Zealand – Melbourne border bubble, will again play at Leichhardt Oval next week against the Crusaders.
A six-try first half sees the teams go into the shed level at 19-19
Clayton McMillan’s men sped into a three-try 19-0 lead after 26 minutes.
Scores from Trask and Lienert-Brown and two Bryn Gatland conversions saw the Kiwis take control.
Trask opened the scoring on 16 minutes before two tries in five minutes by the 26-year-old centre increased the lead.
Lienert-Brown made 123 metres from 13 runs beating eight defenders with two clean breaks as he tore the Rebels to shreds.
Trask, who was also on fire, beat two defenders with two linebreaks, but only carried for 56 metres on 10 carries.
The 22-year-old utility back’s tries were different to Lienert-Brown’s but no less impressive.
The Melbourne defending was nonexistent, the Chiefs just strolled through big holes in the midfield as the Rebels fell off 13 tackles in the first half.
The Chiefs could have had more tries but for an obstruction that ruled out Shaun Stevenson’s ninth-minute try, and a last-ditch tackle by Lachie Anderson on Bailyn Sullivan, 10 minutes later.
Bryn Gatland converted both Lienert-Brown’s tries before Kevin Foote’s side hit back with three scores of their own.
The Rebels scored three times in 12 minutes to level the scores as the teams went into the shed.
Naisarani (twice) and Ili also crossed for the Australians as Foote’s charges fought back.
Matt To’omua, playing inside centre, converted both of Naisarani’s tries.
McMillan’s men pull away after halftime, scoring three more tries to seal the deal
The second half began like the first, with the New Zealanders taking control of the game.
They scored three times in 25 minutes, only conceding seven points to a converted Kellaway try.
Tiatia scored four minutes after the interval before Lienert-Brown put Trask away for the fullback’s second try of the game, seven minutes later.
Gatland converted Tiatia’s score to make it 31-19.
The Rebels did not stand back, striking three minutes after Trask to get their first points of the half.
Kellaway finished off an attack started by Naisarani, and To’omua converted to make it a one-score game before the hour mark.
But Tiatia increased his team’s lead to 10 points with 15 minutes remaining to give the Waikato men some breathing space.
George Worth thought he had cut the gap, but the TMO chalked off the fullback’s try because of obstruction.
The game fizzled out in the final stages as both teams looked for the last try that did not come.
Final Score: Chiefs 36 (19) Rebels 26 (19)
Scorers
Chiefs
Tries – Trask (2), Lienert-Brown (2), Tiatia (2)
Pen –
Con – Gatland (3)
Drop –
Cards –
Rebels
Tries – Naisarani (2), Ili, Kellaway
Pen –
Con – To’omua (3)
Drop –
Cards –
Match Officials
Referee: Graham Cooper
Assistant Ref 1: Brendon Pickerill
Assistant Ref 2: Ben O’Keeffe
TMO: Shane McDermott
Teams
Chiefs
15 Kaleb Trask, 14 Shaun Stevenson, 13 Anton Lienert-Brown, 12 Quinn Tupaea, 11 Bailyn Sullivan, 10 Bryn Gatland, 9 Xavier Roe, 8 Luke Jacobson (captain), 7 Lachlan Boshier, 6 Pita Gus Sowakula, 5 Tupou Vaa’i, 4 Josh Lord, 3 Angus Ta’avao, 2 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 1 Reuben O’Neill
Replacements: 16 Bradley Slater, 17 Oliver Norris, 18 Sione Mafileo, 19 Mitch Brown, 20 Zane Kapeli, 21 Brad Weber, 22 Alex Nankivell, 23 Chase Tiatia
Melbourne Rebels
15 George Worth, 14 Lachie Anderson, 13 Stacy Ili, 12 Matt To’omua, 11 Marika Koroibete, 10 Carter Gordon, 9 Joe Powell, 8 Isi Naisarani, 7 Richard Hardwick, 6 Michael Wells, 5 Trevor Hosea, 4 Rob Leota, 3 Cabous Eloff, 2 Jordan Uelese, 1 Cameron Orr
Replacements: 16 James Hanson, 17 Matt Gibbon, 18 Rhys Van Neck, 19 Ross Haylett-Petty, 20 Michael Icely, 21 James Tuttle, 22 Andrew Kellaway, 23 Frank Lomani
