Brumbies consolidate top position in Australian Conference with 14-26 win over Chiefs

Chiefs 14-26 Brumbies, FMG Stadium Waikato
Scorecard

Brumbies resisted second half fightback from Chiefs as they sealed a 14-26 win in the fourth round of the Super Rugby clash at FMG Stadium Waikato on Saturday.

This is Chiefs' first defeat in four games as they maintain their second place in New Zealand Conference while Brumbies are at the top of the Australian group.

Thomas Banks kick started the proceedings with a ninth minute try after he slipped past a tackle from Damian McKenzie and Noah Lolesio followed with the conversion to make it 0-7 and six minutes later Solomone Kata also touched down for an unconverted try.

As Chiefs failed to score a single point in the opening half, Brumbies capitalised on a scrum that allowed Pete Samu to break from the back of the set piece for his side's third try and Lolesio followed with the conversion.

Samu scored his second immediately after the break as Brumbies scored 26 unanswered points before Chiefs finally managed to break the shackles with a 48th minute try from Aaron Cruden.

Brumbies had a setback with James Slipper yellow-carded in the 53rd minute for a tackle on Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi and Chiefs immediately failed to capitalise on the advantage with a try from Anton Lienert-Brown but they could not find any more breakthrough as they suffered a 14-26 defeat.