Chiefs lay down hammer in second half to blow by Force

The Chiefs have brushed aside an embarrassing defensive lapse to shrug off the Western Force and ensure they maintain the Super Rugby Pacific pace.

Their 56-22 bonus point Anzac Day win, in their first visit to Tauranga’s Blake Park in 12 years, shot the ladder-leaders (8-2) clear with five rounds to play before the finals.

Stung by the late loss of skipper Jeremy Williams, the Force (4-1-5) came armed with a few tricks but their injury-hit squad couldn’t maintain the pace.

“We had good moments there but the 50-50s and spark from the chiefs, they’re very dangerous when they get some loose ball and it’s hard to defend,” stand-in Force captain Sam Carter said.

“We wanted to come over here and hunt together … and we saw some brilliance.

“But you’ve got to put it together for 80 minutes.”

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Avg. Points Scored

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The Chiefs led 25-15 after 40 frenetic minutes, overcoming an embarrassing early gaffe to go ahead thanks to a head-scratching moment of their own.

The Force led 12-10 when flyhalf Ben Donaldson’s quick restart from a Chiefs try caught the hosts napping.

Winger Harry Potter flew past a host of snoozing Chiefs, who were still walking back to their marks, to score a bizarre heads-up try.

A yellow card for Force centre Sio Tomkinson, who clipped Shaun Stevenson high with his shoulder, slowed the visitors though.

Prop Samisoni Taukei’aho stormed over for a try in his 100th game to put the Chiefs back in front before the sides traded penalties.

The madcap half was complete when Chiefs No.7 Kaylum Boshie was awarded a try, but only after it had been disallowed and the Force went 100 metres the other way to almost score themselves.

Play was eventually halted to confirm and explain the initial result, but further replays prompted a closer look.

Referee James Doleman then reversed his decision, returning to the other end of the field to award the try.

Ollie Norris barged over three minutes into the second half to create a 17-point buffer that quickly swelled when halfback Cortez Ratima’s support of Boshie earnt him a try.

Potter scored again to keep the Force in it, grubbering ahead and calmly finishing in traffic.

Stevenson put the foot down though in a scintillating first-phase strike from a scrum, with Ratima there again to finish the good work.

Luke Jacobson’s try then put the result beyond doubt with 12 minutes to play before Daniel Rona’s effort helped them raise the bat for their half-century.

All Blacks centre Anton Lienert-Brown failed to finish and had his arm in a sling-post in a potentially key blow for the title contenders.