Chiefs edge thriller with Sharks in Hamilton

The Chiefs sealed just their fourth win of the Super Rugby season as they beat the Sharks 29-23 to move off the bottom of their conference.

This triumph takes them above the Blues, who succumbed to the Hurricanes on Friday, while a losing bonus-point takes the Sharks top in South Africa.

Brad Weber (2), Mitch Karpik and Anton Lienert-Brown crossed for the home outfit while Marty McKenzie nailed nine points off the kicking tee. In reply, the Sharks’ try-scorers were Hyron Andrews and Ruan Botha while Curwin Bosch slotted 13 points for his side in a narrow defeat.

The Chiefs went into the break leading 17-13 after an error-strewn first 40 that saw the visiting Sharks make far too many handling errors.

McKenzie got the ball rolling on 10 minutes with a penalty after the Sharks had strayed offside. The South Africans then had plenty of chances to strike back in the opposition red zone but knock-ons were costing them dearly. It felt like deja vu for them as errors ended their attacks.

The Chiefs were having no such issues and rare ball on 27 minutes resulted in them extending their buffer. The try-scoring play began with prop Atu Moli’s line breaking carry before McKenzie then also got through and found Sean Wainui, who laid on Weber for the seven-pointer.

The Sharks finally put points on the board soon after though as Luke Jacobson’s ruck offence led to Bosch chipping away at the lead before Andrews then galloped over after Solomon Alaimalo couldn’t hold a high kick that found its way to the lock. The game was now tied at 10-10.

Colin Cooper’s charges did regroup though and a line-out move in the away 22 led to Karpik darting over against a disorganised Sharks defence. Cushioning that blow somewhat for the Sharks was Bosch slotting three points before the break to make it 17-13 to the New Zealanders.

Jacobson, the man pinged for that Bosch effort, made amends early in the second period at ruck time but McKenzie was this time wayward.

The Sharks were then given a lift when Chiefs hooker Nathan Harris was yellow carded for a cynical offence on the ground in his own 22, handing the visiting team an attacking line-out against 14 men. And it took then no time to capitalise, Botha scoring to take his side 20-17 up.

That became 23-17 just after the hour mark thanks to the boot of Bosch, this after the Chiefs illegally brought down a maul 40 metres out.

But the Chiefs showed resolve to respond 12 minutes from time. They remained patient as, following several phases, Lienert-Brown crossed for a try, before they scored straight from the restart. Alex Nankivell’s fine break saw him over halfway and he found Alaimalo, who duly fed Weber to grab his second and move the Chiefs 29-23 in front.

That was how the game ended as, despite a late spell of possession, the Sharks could not get into the 22 and fumbled as the Chiefs held on.