The Chiefs have prevailed in the Battle of the Bombays, pipping the Blues 33-29 in a thriller at FMG Stadium in Hamilton.
All Black staff will be holding their breath after superstar utility Damian McKenzie was taking from the field in the second half with a knee injury.
The match started off with the Blues firmly on the front foot – having all the possession in the first 10 minutes, winning every 50/50 ball and winning the majority of the penalties.
That stopped when halfback Brad Weber picked off a pass and ran 70 metres to score the first try of the match and snatch the momentum from the Auckland based side.
The Chiefs kept the Blues under the pump for the next 15 minutes, scoring a great try which was finished off by flanker Lachlan Boshier.
A try on half-time from Melani Nanai meant the score was 14-10 to the Chiefs heading into the break.
The second half was nothing short of breath-taking, three tries for each team.
Japanese winger Ataata Moeakiola scored the opening try of the second half after a great run from Anton Lienert-Brown.
Ma’a Nonu scored a brutal try where he powered through All Black second-five Lienert-Brown to score and get the Blues to within 6.
But five minutes later the home side scored the try of the night – Sean Wainui displayed a prenominal piece of skill to gather a pass before setting up Boshier for his second.
Rieko Ioane scored in the 66th minute to keep the Blues’ chances alive – those hopes were all but dashed just six minutes later when substitute forward Jesse Parete went over to take the score to 33-22.
Nonu scored with two minutes to go which set up a nail-biting finish for the cowbell ringing Chiefs fans at FMG Stadium.
But a lost ball from the Blues handed the Chiefs their third straight win, getting them off the bottom of the conference.
Newshub.
