Chiefs earn tough win
Lelia Masaga's 66th-minute try sealed a 14-10 victory for the Waikato Chiefs over the Otago Highlanders in Invercargill.
Last Updated: 14/03/09 1:53pm
Lelia Masaga's 66th-minute try sealed a 14-10 victory for the Waikato Chiefs over the Otago Highlanders in Invercargill.
Masaga evaded four would-be tacklers on his way down the touchline for a magnificent individual score to settle the all-New Zealand Super 14 clash.
Winger Fetu'u Vainikolo had given the Highlanders the early lead when he crossed for the opening try on 15 minutes.
Daniel Bowden added the conversion from the touchline to put the hosts 7-0 ahead.
However, the Chiefs drew level before half-time when flanker Tanerau Latimer touched down and Stephen Donald converted.
Otago regained the lead through a Bowden penalty midway through the second half, only to be denied by Masaga's intervention.
"Looking on the positive side of things, we got the win," Chiefs captain Mils Muliaina said.
"We were lucky to get four points out of it because it was a pretty ugly game."
