Chiefs run rampant over Reds - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Chiefs run rampant over Reds

By David Barbeler 29/03/2009 12:19:40 AM Comments (0)

The Chiefs have backed up last week's scintillating Super 14 performance by destroying a lacklustre Queensland Reds 50-26 at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night.

The Chiefs proved they are real Super 14 title contenders, running in six tries to four against the Reds to post their fourth consecutive win for the season in front of a crowd of 21,041.

The Waikato-based side followed on from last week's impressive 63-34 hiding of neighbours the Blues.

The Reds started off on the front foot and had the bulk of the possession until the seventh minute, before Chiefs flanker Tanerau Latimer stole possession and spun the ball wide to Stephen Donald, who ran 50 metres to score in the corner.

It was mostly downhill from there for the Reds.

Controversy struck in the 11th minute when Lauaki made a linebreak and put Sivivatu over for a try.

However a referee's assistant, 15 metres away, ruled the ball was knocked on, when Sivivatu hurt his wrist from slamming the ball down.

However a case of rugby Karma was enforced two minutes later when Sivivatu flew through a midfield gap and scored under the posts.

With the Chiefs comfortably up 19-0, Dwayne Seeney replaced the injured Sivivatu in the 16th minute, but was only on the field for one minute before he was yellow carded for tackling reds winger Blair Connor in the air.

The Reds immediately capitalised on being one player up, scoring twice in the ten minutes through hooker Sean Hardman and centre Berrick Barnes.

In the 36th minute, Stephen Donald caught Connor out of position for the second time in two minutes, when he changed direction and executed a pin-point crosskick to Muliaina, who added five points to the Chiefs tally.

Sweeney also redeemed his yellow card on the stroke of halftime, when he stepped inside McMeniman and sprinted 40 metres to make the score 37-12.

Looking down and out, the Reds needed to score first in the second half and did, when fullback Mark McLinden ran a hard inside ball off Barnes and scored under the posts.

But the fightback was shortlived, with the Chiefs playing a much more defensive game in the second half before Muliaina twisted the knife into the Reds with a 40-metre run to the try line, subsequently racking up the half century.

However the Reds did manage to salvage a bonus point out of the match in the 75th minute, when a Chiefs' defensive lineout went over the head of the number six jumper and Daniel Braid ducked under.

Reds captain James Horwill said his side failed to stick to the gameplan.

"We were doing what we said we'd do at the start of the match, then we went away from it and it hurt us," Horwill said.

"We gave them too much turnover ball and they feed off that."

Queensland coach Phil Mooney credited Berrick Barnes as a rock in a losing side.

However he said the defensive system which had helped the Reds post their last two wins at Suncorp this season fell apart in the first half.

"To be honest the Chiefs were red hot tonight," he said.

Chiefs captain Mils Muliaina praised his side's effort.

"We were pretty good, we were pretty hungry at the breakdown and we knew we had to start well against these guys," Muliaina said.

"I'm pretty proud of the effort ... we've got a bit of momentum now and we've won a few games on the trot and we're glad to be going home."

Mooney said he didn't regret starting rookie winger Blair Connor and league convert Rod Davies against the Chiefs' rampaging wingers Sitiveni Sivivatu and Lelia Masaga.

"It was a pretty harsh learning experience for them, we knew from the start when you pick young guys that there is always the potential they can get shown up in some areas of the game," Mooney said.

"But everyone has to start off and I'm happy picking them.

"At the end of the day, we were completely outplayed. Whether we had have played (the Chiefs) the week after the Sharks, would have the result been different? I'm not sure but I'm not going to blame the bye.

Chiefs coach Ian Foster denied the Reds fell apart.

"I didn't actually see a brittle Reds team out there, I saw a team that was very physical at us, and had us on the ropes for patches," Foster said.

Foster also said Sivivatu may have slightly dislocated his shoulder when his try was controversially ruled a knock on in the 11th minute, without going to the video referee.

"I've already spoken to the officials and they realise they made a mistake, fortunately for everyone we scored in the next play so the mistake got eroded but hopefully they will learn from that," Foster said.

Sivivatu's replacement winger Dwayne Seeney was cited for his dangerous tackle on Connor, which will be heard at Ballymore on Sunday.

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