Super Rugby: Chiefs 24-22 Sharks
Last Updated: 29/04/16 4:27pm
The Chiefs battled to a hard fought 24-22 win over the Sharks in their Super Rugby clash at Yarrow Stadium on Friday.
Fly-half Aaron Cruden kicked three second-half penalties to break a 15-15 half-time deadlock and steer the Chiefs to victory.
Cruden landed four penalties and a conversion - four goals from six attempts - doing just enough to keep the Chiefs' noses in front in a struggle with the Sharks, who scored three tries to two.
The win kept the Chiefs atop the table at the start of the 10th round, while the Sharks ended their New Zealand tour with two losses and a win over defending champions the Highlanders.
Captain Sam Cane called the win "fractionally ugly" and it was in keeping with recent performances from the Chiefs, in which they have kept their winning streak alive despite not playing at their best.
They shocked the Sharks with a try in the first minute when center Seta Tamanivalu burst through a huge hole in the visitors' midfield to touch down near the posts.
The Chiefs went on to open a 15-3 lead after 23 minutes with a try to bustling No 8 Michael Leitch, who was their most industrious player. But the Sharks took advantage of the Chiefs' inaccurate kicking game to fight their way back, scoring twice from lineout drives to level the match at half-time.
First, prop Kyle Cooper was driven over in the 28th, then young fly-half Garth April scored his first Super Rugby try, stepping through lax defence after another lineout drive put the Sharks hard on attack.
Cruden nudged the Chiefs to 24-15 with penalties. Again, the Sharks refused to bow down and struck back in the 72nd with a lineout drive that produced a try to Chiliboy Ralepelle.
The Chiefs turned down a late chance for a shot at goal and eventually ran down the clock.
"It was a grind, and you only have to have watched a bit of the Sharks to know that's what they're about," Cane said. "We're very pleased to get the win, albeit fractionally ugly, but that's what you've got to do against tough teams."
The Sharks were frustrated that they let possible wins over the Blues and Chiefs elude them.
"When we look at the tape, our discipline probably let us down a bit," Sharks captain Keegan Daniel said. "We let them off the hook at crucial times. We've come away with six points from this tour so we'll look back and say, 'We'll take six,' and regroup when we get back home."
