Chiefs send Force packing
The Chiefs maintained their fine start to the Super 14 season as they chalked up a convincing 37-19 away victory over Western Force.
Last Updated: 27/02/10 7:16pm
The Chiefs maintained their fine start to the Super 14 season as they chalked up a convincing 37-19 away victory over Western Force.
The New Zealanders won their opening two games of the competition and preserved that 100 percent record as well as picking up a winning bonus point in Perth.
Hika Elliot, Lelia Masaga, Colin Bourke and Tim Nanai-Williams all touched down for the visitors, while fly-half Stephen Donald kicked a personal haul of 17 points.
The Force claimed a late consolation score through centre Ryan Cross with the rest of their points coming from the boots of James O'Connor and Brett Sheehan.
Despite ending up comprehensively beaten, the hosts had made a bright start with O'Connor a lively presence at fly-half as he traded penalties with Donald.
Intelligent kick
Sheehan then missed with a penalty attempt of his own after doing well to win an award with an intelligent kick and chase and the Chiefs capitalised soon afterwards with their first try.
Having stolen a Force line-out, scrum-half Brendon Leonard gathered his own kick-ahead and skilfully set up the try as he linked with prop Nathan White and Elliot, before the hooker went over.
Donald added the extras and then added a penalty shortly after to open up a 13-3 lead.
Sheehan trimmed the advantage with a 50-metre penalty on the stroke of half-time and shortly after the resumption O'Connor kicked two more as they closed to within a point at 13-12.
But that was as good as things got for the home side as All Black stand-off Donald relieved the pressure with a penalty of his own and the visitors gave themselves renewed breathing space with an outstanding try.
Winger Dwayne Sweeney fed centre Isaac Bruce who produced a strong, angled burst before offloading to Masaga on his outside and the winger finished well with Donald adding the extras.
The Chiefs remained on the front foot and moved themselves clear of their tiring opponents when number eight Bourke powered through Ben McCalman to score.
Cross intercepted a poor Chiefs pass to bring some cheer to Force fans, but it was the Chiefs who had the laugh as they earned their bonus point in the dying moments as replacement full-back Nanai-Williams went over with virtually the last play of the contest.
