Six-try Chiefs beat Blues by 41-26

Chiefs 41-26 Blues, FMG Stadium Waikato
Scorecard

Chiefs ran a six-try riot as they inflicted a 41-26 defeat on a 14-men Blues team in their Super Rugby encounter at FMG Stadium Waikato on Friday.

The win also meant Chiefs have claimed the top position in the New Zealand conference while Blues move to third position.

Fly-half Ihaia West got Blues off the mark with a third minute penalty but Chiefs replied back immediately with a try from flanker Liam Messam. Two more penalties from West ended the first quarter for Blues with a four point lead.

Fullback Damian McKenzie crossed over in the 21st minute for the hosts while All Blacks international Aaron Cruden added a conversion and a penalty to bring Chiefs to a 15-9 lead and things went from bad to worse for the visitors when flanker Steven Luatua was sent-off at the end of the first half.

With Blues being one-man down, Chiefs capitalised on the advantage and scored four more tries through Hika Elliot, Lachlan Boshier, James Lowe and Anton Lienert-Brown and Cruden added extras on three occasions to take them to 41 points.

Even though, Blues made a late surge with three tries each from replacements Patrick Tuipulotu, Charlie Faumuina and Rene Ranger, they succumbed to a 15-point defeat.