Chiefs scream home over Highlanders with huge second half

Hamilton may have offered smoother conditions than other fixtures in New Zealand over the past few days, but points were still hard to come by until the Chiefs broke the game open in the second half.

The Highlanders were forced to make 100 tackles in the opening 40 minutes alone, and couldn’t help but start to leak points in the second. Strong tactical kicking and physicality saw the Chiefs capitalise and claim a 46-10 win.

There were plenty of high kicks early, and Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens was up to the challenge of winning possession for the Highlanders. Moments later, Emoni Narawa was caught offside and the Highlanders took the three points on offer.

Crunching defence won the Chiefs possession after the kickoff, before a scrum penalty allowed Damian McKenzie to level the scores.

The Highlanders looked to have won back possession on another contestable kick, but the loose ball was snapped up by Leroy Carter, who ran 70 metres before he was chopped down. Numerous Chiefs got close, but it was Narawa who finished the play by diving between the defenders.

The Highlanders had something special for the Chiefs after a goal-line dropout, with Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens swinging into the attacking line to collect a short ball from Timoci Tavatavanawai and make a 30-metre break. Sefo Kautai finished the effort a phase later.

The scores wouldn’t be tied for long, though, as Quinn Tupaea wrapped up the ball in the first ruck after play restarted. McKenzie landed the three points. Halftime score: 13-10 to the Chiefs.

After play resumed, an out on the full kick from Folau Fakatava handed the Chiefs an early attacking chance in Highlanders territory. A big carry from Samipeni Finau got the hosts on the front foot, and Quinn Tupaea capitalised with a grubber that was collected over the tryline by Leroy Carter.

An otherwise strong showing from Fakatava continued with a linebreak, but the Highlanders continued to come up short of scoring points.

The Chiefs, on the other hand, were getting into prime attacking position and making the most of it. Next, it was Kaylum Boshier’s turn to get on the scoreboard via driving maul.

It took just two minutes for the Chiefs to strike again, this time thanks to a Damian McKenzie cross-field kick that was comfortably collected by Samipeni Finau.

The game opened up entirely after that, but again, nothing came of a Highlanders break. The Chiefs were in rhythm and executed once more, with Boshier claiming his second.

More set-piece dominance and crisp ball movement saw the Chiefs knocking on the Highlanders’ door again soon after, and Samisoni Taukei’aho claimed the five points at the back of another driving maul. Final score: 46-10.