Stephen Donald kicked a sharply angled penalty with two minutes left to give the Waikato Chiefs a 20-17 win over the New South Wales Waratahs in Super 14 rugby yesterday.
The Waratahs fought back from 12-0 down at half-time and 17-0 in the second half to tie the score at 17-17 five minutes from full-time. But Donald nudged the Chiefs back into the lead with the final points of the match in the dying moments.
Referee Marius Jonker awarded the Chiefs a penalty for offside play at a ruck near the 22m line and Donald calmly kicked the goal.
PHOTO: REUTERS
The Chiefs scored three tries, largely against the run of play, to hold what seemed an unassailable 12-point lead with only five minutes left.
However the Waratahs hit back with tries to Ben Jacobs, Sam Harris and Lote Tuqiri to tie the scores and give flyhalf Kurtley Beale the chance to win the match with a conversion minutes from full-time.
Beale, who had a wretched kicking day, missed, and the Chiefs were able to secure possession after the restart, to threaten the Waratahs' line and to win the penalty that decided the match.
The Chiefs labored for most of the match under deficits of possession and territory but showed a sharper scoring touch than the Waratahs, who squandered chances with poor passing and handling.
Liam Messam scored Waikato's first try in the 13th minute, then Sitiveni Sivivatu marked his 50th Super 14 game with a superb solo try that sent the Chiefs to half-time with a commanding lead.
Sivivatu received the ball on the 10m line, headed off crossfield then straightened and sawed through the New South Wales defense to score. Donald converted.
Center Richard Kahui gave the Chiefs a strong start to the second-half with a try after three minutes, extending their lead to 17-0.
Jacobs scored the Waratahs' first try in the 46th minute then Harris, from an intercept, and Tuqiri scored tries within three minutes of each other to set up a thrilling finish.
■ BRUMBIES WIN
AFP, CANBERRA
Julian Huxley guided a bare bones ACT Brumbies to a tense 22-20 Super 14 rugby win over the Otago Highlanders in Canberra yesterday.
The Brumbies, in a rebuilding phase after the loss of George Gregan and Stephen Larkham, also went into the match without the injured Stirling Mortlock, Clyde Rathbone and Adam Ashley-Cooper.
The Highlanders clawed back from 17-7 down at half-time to get within two points in the frenetic final minutes.
James Wilson had the chance to kick Otago to victory with eight minutes left but pushed his penalty attempt wide.
Otago's Fetu'u Vainikolo, who scored the opening try in the fourth minute, was a constant threat and almost stole the match only to be ankle-tapped by a diving Stephen Hoiles eight minutes from full-time.
The Brumbies appeared fortunate to receive a penalty try in the 32nd minute after lock Hayden Triggs was sin-binned for a high tackle on Huia Edmonds.
That presented the Brumbies with a 17-7 lead, but the Highlanders kept grafting away in the second half with two Wilson penalties, before Hoiles scored ACT's third try in the 61st minute.
Stephen Setephano was held up over the Brumbies' try-line in the 65th minute, but a minute later prop Chris King plunged over to put Otago within two points and set up the thrilling finish.
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