Lowe hat-trick powers Chiefs to 46-31 win over Waratahs

Chiefs 46-31 Waratahs, FMG Stadium Waikato
Scorecard

James Lowe scored three tries while Damian McKenzie kicked 16 points as Chiefs completed a 46-31 win over Waratahs in their Super Rugby encounter at FMG Stadium Waikato on Saturday.

The win has taken Chiefs to second position in New Zealand Conference overhauling Hurricanes and Waratahs have maintained their second position in Australian Conference despite the loss.

Mitchell Brown (14') and Lowe (30') were the try scorers for Chiefs in the first half while McKenzie slotted two penalties and a conversion to take them to 18 points. Waratahs' only response came from Wallabies fly-half Bernard Foley, who kicked a penalty at the stroke of half time to bring down the trail to 15 points.

Chiefs took early advantage in the second half as well with Lowe and Tawera Kerr-Barlow crossing over but their efforts were negated by Waratahs' Rob Horne and Will Skelton. After Kerr-Barlow, crossed over for the second time both the teams were reduced to 14-men temporarily with sin bins to Brown and Paddy Ryan.

Even though tries in the final 10 minutes by Cameron Clark and Sekope Kepu, raised the hopes of Waratahs, Lowe scored his third try in the game to complete a 15 point victory for Chiefs.