Reds routed by Chiefs
The Chiefs continued their impressive run of form with a comprehensive 50-26 victory over the Reds at Suncorp Stadium.
Last Updated: 28/03/09 12:33pm
The Chiefs continued their impressive run of form with a comprehensive 50-26 victory over the Queensland Reds at the Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.
The visitors ran in six tries to Reds' four to send the hosts crashing back to earth after their impressive 25-13 win over the Sharks the previous week.
The Chiefs victory was set up by an insurmountable 37-12 lead at half-time, however flanker Daniel Braid ensured the Reds didn't leave the game empty handed, scoring the home side's fourth try late in the match.
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 the ball and spun it wide to Stephen Donald, who ran 50 metres to score in the corner.
Reds full-back Marc McLinden then knocked-on to hand Sitiveni Sivivatu the first of his brace.
In-between his two tries, controversy struck in the eleventh minute when Sione Lauaki made a line break and put Sivivatu over for a try. However a referee's assistant - fifteen metres away - ruled the ball was knocked on, when Sivivatu hurt his wrist slamming the ball down.
Direct approach
However a case of rugby Karma was enforced two minutes later when Sivivatu flew through a midfield gap and scored under the posts. He left the field shortly afterwards.
Sivivatu's replacement, Dwayne Sweeney, immediately cost his team as he was sin-binned for a dangerous tackle, allowing the Reds to strike back. The hosts opted for a direct approach and the pick-and-go from hooker Sean Hardman got them on the scoreboard, while Berrick Barnes pulled another back.
The Chiefs quickly regained the ascendancy when Mills Muliaina won the race to a Donald cross-kick to claim the bonus point before the half-time interval, and when Sweeney sprinted 60 metres to score on the siren, the Chiefs took an unassailable 25-point lead into the interval.
The Chiefs moved further ahead in the 48th minute when Donald landed a penalty goal, but the Reds scored the first five-pointer when Barnes linked with McLinden six minutes later.
Donald's fourth penalty goal of the match increased the lead before Muliaina scored his second try with nine minutes remaining to complete the romp.
Mike Delany's conversion brought up the half-century for the visitors but the final say belonged to the Reds when Braid picked up their fourth try - and a valuable bonus point - for their troubles.
Not only have the Chiefs reclaimed their spot in the top four, but proved they are now real Super 14 title contenders.
