Chiefs return to top after romping Rebels

Chiefs 36-15 Rebels, FMG Stadium Waikato
Scorecard

A clinical performance from Chiefs ensured they recovered from the previous loss to Highlanders after comfortably defeating Rebels by 36-15 at the FMG Stadium Waikato on Saturday.

The win has also taken them to the top position of the New Zealand Conference with 42 points from 11 games.

Chiefs scored as many as four tries in the first 30 minutes with Seta Tamanivalu (3'), Nathan Harris (13'), Toni Pulu (24) and Aaron Cruden (29) all contributing. The fly-half Cruden also converted three of the four tries to ensure Chiefs ended the first-half at 26-3.

The Chiefs couldn't carry the momentum into the second half as Rebels made a brief comeback with their fly-half Mike Harris, who added seven points.

However, in contrast to an explosive first half, the second was filled with a lot of inaccuracies from both the teams as they struggled to score a point in the next 23 minutes.

Replacement Andrew Horrell scored the fifth try for the Chiefs in the 71st minute but Reece Hodge nullified it with a try for Rebels in the 74th minute.

The Chiefs might be disappointed on not to have built on their momentum from the first half but nevertheless the 36-15 has taken them to the top of the New Zealand group.