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Waikato Chiefs edge past Otago in 10-score thriller

The Waikato Chiefs kept their slim Super 14 semi-final hopes alive with a 38-34 win over the Otago Highlanders in a 10-try scoring bonanza yesterday.

The rare daylight match recalled the high-scoring early days of the Super competition with each side running in five tries. The unerring boot of Chiefs flyhalf Stephen Donald made the difference after he succeeded with all five conversion attempts.

Both sides were desperate to keep their semi-final chances alive and the Chiefs made their intentions clear by selecting All Black winger Sitiveni Sivivatu -- not renowned for his defensive prowess -- at fullback.

He repaid the selection with two tries and winger Lelia Masaga also scored a pair, with inside center Niva Ta'auso touching down the first.

Good conditions

The Highlanders are not one of the best attacking sides in the competition but they made the most of the good conditions in New Zealand's tourism capital with touchdowns from Lucky Mulipola, Anton Oliver, Viliame Waqaseduadua, Matt Saunders and Toby Moreland.

Both sides threw caution to the wind and were guilty of defensive lapses but the Highlanders missed 27 tackles to the Chiefs' 12 in a telling statistic.

"You could tell out there that for both sides it was do or die for their season and we didn't come out on top," Highlanders skipper Craig Newby said afterwards.

"But I guess for the spectators it was a good game."

The Highlanders' fortunes were badly dented within six minutes when All Black lock James Ryan had to be stretchered from the field with a medial ligament injury. Newby and halfback Jimmy Cowan were also forced from the field later with injuries.

Dominant

They dominated early possession but fortunes became more even as the spell progressed as the sides traded two tries apiece before half-time.

The Highlanders had some success in testing the Chiefs defense with high bombs and a fumbled take by Chiefs winger Roy Kinikinilau gifted a rare try to All Blacks veteran hooker Oliver.

The Chiefs went into the break with a slim 17-15 lead and kept in front through most of the second spell.

A try by Highlanders replacement back Toby Morland gave the Highlanders a three-point advantage with 16 minutes to play but Masaga hit back for the Chiefs soon after and they were able to hang on in the frantic final minutes.
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