Australian Super Rugby outfit the Waratahs saw off a spirited second half performance by the Chiefs to see them beat the New Zealand side by 23 – 16 in Sydney on Friday.

The Tahs were impressive in the first 40 minutes, but their lacklustre showing in the second half shows there is much room for improvement.

The Tahs got off to the perfect start when wing Atieli Pakalani went over after four minutes. The Sydney-siders’ big pack has been one of their strengths for many seasons now, and the way they shoved the Chiefs back in the first scrum was ominous. From the resultant tighthead five metres from the line, the Tahs scored after a few phases – once wing Pakalani ran a good angle.

The Chiefs hit back with a penalty, but they would’ve felt they required more after scrumhalf Brendon Leonard dropped the ball with the line in reach.

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Vodacom Stormers 42 Crusaders 14
Vodacom Stormers – Tries: Jaque Fourie (2), Sireli Naqelevuki; Conversions: Peter Grant (3); Penalties: Grant (7).
Crusaders – Tries: Daniel Carter, Colin Slade; Conversions: Carter (2).

Vodacom Bulls 27 The Sharks 19
Vodacom Bulls – Tries: Jacques-Louis Potgieter, Gerhard van den Heever; Conversion: Morne Steyn; Penalties: Steyn (5).
The Sharks – Try: Rory Kockott; Conversion: Kockott; Penalties: Andy Goode (4).

Vodacom Cheetahs 36 Blues 32
Vodacom Cheetahs – Tries: Juan Smith, Jongi Nokwe, Bjorn Basson, Phillip van der Merwe, Waltie Vermeulen; Conversions: Naas Olivier (2), Meyer Bosman (2); Penalty: Olivier.
Blues – Tries: Isaia Toeava, Rene Ranger, Alby Mathewson, Anthony Tuitavake; Conversions: Stephen Brett (3); Penalties: Brett (2).

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Reds 16 Vodacom Stormers 13
Reds – Try: Will Chambers; Conversion: Quade Cooper; Penalties: Cooper (3).
Vodacom Stormers – Try: Andries Bekker; Conversion: Peter Grant; Penalties: Grant (2).

Chiefs 25 Vodacom Cheetahs 25
Chiefs – Tries: Colin Bourke, Hika Elliot, Toby Smith, Dwayne Sweeney, Liam Messam.
Vodacom Cheetahs – Tries: Devon Raubenheimer, WP Nel, Meyer Bosman; Conversions: Naas Olivier (2); Penalties: Olivier (2).

Vodacom Bulls 51 Auto & General Lions 11
Vodacom Bulls – Tries: Gerhard van den Heever (2), Derick Kuün, Morné Steyn, Wynand Olivier, John Mametsa; Conversions: Morné Steyn (3); Penalties: Steyn (5).
Auto & General Lions – Try: Wandile Mjekevu; Penalties: Herkie Kruger (2).

The Sharks 23 Blues 10
Scorers: The Sharks – Tries: Ruan Pienaar; Penalties: Pienaar (4), Kockott (2).
Blues – Tries: Peter Saili; Conversion: Stephen Brett; Penalty: Brett.

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Chiefs 15 Vodacom Stormers 49
Chiefs – Tries: Tamerau Latimer, Tim Nanai-Williams; Conversion: Stephen Donald; Penalty: Donald.
Vodacom Stormers – Tries: Bryan Habana, Duane Vermeulen, Tiaan Liebenberg, Sireli Naqelevuki, Andries Bekker, Deon Fourie; Conversions: Peter Grant (4), Willem de Waal; Penalties: Grant (3).

Reds 19 Vodacom Bulls 12
Reds – Tries: Scott Higginbotham, Rod Davies; Penalties: Quade Cooper (3).
Vodacom Bulls – Tries: Dewald Potgieter, Pedrie Wannenburg; Conversion: Morne Steyn.

Crusaders 45 Vodacom Cheetahs 6
Crusaders – Tries: Thomas Waldrom (2), Kahn Fotuali`i, Ryan Crotty, Sean Maitland, Ben Franks, Zac Guildford; Conversions: Colin Slade (5).
Vodacom Cheetahs – Penalties: Riaan Viljoen, Meyer Bosman.

Auto & General Lions 28 The Sharks 32
Auto & General Lions – Tries: Michael Killian, Franco van der Merwe, Derick Minnie; Conversions: Herkie Kruger (2); Penalties: Kruger (3).
The Sharks – Tries: Patrick Lambie, Odwa Ndungane, Bismarck du Plessis, Jacques Botes; Conversions: Ruan Pienaar (3); Penalties: Pienaar (2).

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The Stormers took a huge step towards the semi-finals of the Super 14 tournament with a comprehensive 49 -15 win over the Chiefs in Hamilton on Friday after leading 20 – 10 at halftime.

The Stormers picking up a full-house of five points for their efforts and moved to the top of the standings. The Chiefs left empty-handed and remain in seventh position.

In next weekend’s Round 11 action, the Stormers travel to Brisbane to face the Reds, while the Chiefs host the Cheetahs in Hamilton.

Scorers:
Chiefs – Tries: Tanerau Latimer, Tim Nanai-Williams. Conversion: Stephen Donald. Penalty: Donald.
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Chiefs 19 Vodacom Bulls 33

Chiefs – Try: Brendon Leonard; Conversion: Stephen Donald; Penalties: Donald (4).
Vodacom Bulls – Tries: Gerhard van den Heever, Pierre Spies, Gary Botha, Dewald Potgieter; Conversions: Morne Steyn (2); Penalties: Steyn (3).

Blues 21 Vodacom Stormers 33

Blues – Tries: Serge Lilo, Luke McAlister, Joe Rokocoko; Conversions: Stephen Brett (3).
Vodacom Stormers – Tries: Jaque Fourie, Dewaldt Duvenhage, Anton van Zyl; Conversions: Peter Grant (3); Penalties: Grant (4).

Brumbies 61 Vodacom Cheetahs 15

Brumbies – Tries: Ben Alexander (2), Stephen Hoiles, Patrick Phibbs, Tyrone Smith, Rocky Elsom, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Matt Toomua, Alfi Mafi; Conversions: Matt Giteau (6), Julian Huxley (2).
Vodacom Cheetahs – Tries: Sarel Pretorius, Adriaan Strauss; Conversion: Riaan Viljoen; Penalty: Naas Olivier. Auto & General Lions 26 Reds 41

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The Bulls beat last year’s fellow finalists the Chiefs 33 – 19 in Hamilton today to reclaim the top spot on the Super 14 log.

In an energy-sapping encounter, the Bulls were made to work over-time for their first win over the Chiefs in New Zealand and their second on the road this season.

It was a determined effort from the home side, and certainly wasn’t the blowout that occurred when the two teams met in last year’s final in Pretoria. Far from it in fact, as the Chiefs let the game slip from their grasp only ten minutes from the end.

The Round Nine loss, the fourth of the Chiefs’ campaign and their third at home, will now seriously dent their semi-final hopes as they drop down to seventh on the table.

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