Waratahs run over Chiefs in Hamilton

May 8 • International • 1417 Views • Comments Off on Waratahs run over Chiefs in Hamilton

The Waratahs have proved that they remain serious contenders for the Super14 Semi-Finals with a convincing win over the Chiefs in Hamilton.

The Waratahs have punished an out of sorts Chiefs by 46-19, outscoring their hosts by seven tries to three in the process

Another small crowd in Hamilton greeted the teams as they entered the ground.

The Chiefs welcomed back powerhouse second row Kevin O’Neill, while the move of Barnes to number 10 for the Waratahs would be interesting for the Wallaby selectors. Barnes opening kick off would have not set their hearts alight.

The Tahs though would be smiling within three minutes, a superb sixty metre run, then chip and chase with a fine regather from Drew Mitchell highlighted all of his talent, a great try. Barnes missed the conversion, 5-0 to the Waratahs.

The eighth minute saw the Waratahs build through 20 phases, winning a penalty attempt, which they spurned going for an attacking lineout. A tame knock-on from Luke Burgess saw the Chiefs ease the pressure.

The game moved out of the first quarter with the Waratahs guilty of some poor passing costing them potential points. There was no such problem in the 23rd minute when Ben Mowen took a short ball on the 22. He powered through some weak defence and crossed under the posts, barnes converted for a 12-0 lead.

The Waratahs got their third try after driving over from a 5 metre lineout, hooker Polota-Nau came up with the ball. Barnes missed the conversion, 17-0 to the visitors.

With 30 minutes of the match played it was looking like the Chiefs were incapable of rescuing the match.

Barnes added three more points in the 38th minute for a penalty at scrum time. There was no more score before the half.

The Waratahs may have been 20 points up but they were a long way from their best.

Barnes scored the bonus point try 40 seconds into the second half when he plucked a Chiefs ball out of mid air and raced 40 metre’s for the try. He converted and the score was 27-0.

The 48th minute saw Kane Douglas have a try disallowed for a double movement after more fine build up play by the Tahs.

As the match moved towards the hour mark the Waratahs wee piling on the pressure but not able to get the score they were searching for.

The Chiefs finally troubled the scorer after some decent build up play they swept the ball wide to the left and fullback Tim Nanai-Williams crossed, Bruce missed the conversion. 27-5.

The Waratahs took offence to the score and marched up the pitch, phase after phase and a perfect grub kick from Barnes found a flying Beale for the try. Halangahu converted for a 34-5 lead.

Beale liked the the look of the grub kick and tried it himself a few minutes later, perfectly timed in found an unmarked Turner for the score outwide. Halangahu missed the conversion. 39-5 to the Tahs.

The Chiefs, with their pride dented were trying to give the score line some pride, some fine handling set centre Jackson Willison crashing over, the TMO confirmed the try. Bruce converted 39-12. Willison grabbed his brace a few minutes later with a fine individual effort. Sweeney converted 39-19.

The Waratahs, lifted a gear from the restart. Turner took a fine ball, they worked the ball left and replacement hooker Damien Fitzpatrick crashed over on the bell.

Chiefs
Tries: Nanai-Williams, Willison 2,
Cons: Bruce, Sweeney,
Pens:
DG:

Waratahs
Tries: Mitchell, Mowen, Polota-Nau, Barnes, Beale, Turner, Fitzpatrick,
Cons: Barnes 2, Halangahu 2,
Pens: Barnes,
DG:

Chiefs: 15 Tim Nanai-Williams, 14 Dwayne Sweeney, 13 Richard Kahui, 12 Jackson Willison, 11 Jason Hona, 10 Callum Bruce, 9 Junior Poluleuligaga, 8 Colin Bourke, 7 Tanerau Latimer, 6 Liam Messam (capt), 5 Kevin O’Neill, 4 Craig Clarke, 3 Nathan White, 2 Hika Elliot, 1 Sona Taumalolo

Replacements: 16 Aled de Malmanche, 17 Ben Afeaki, 18 Culum Retallick, 19 Luke Braid, 20 Brendon Leonard, 21 Phil Burleigh, 22 Save Tokula

Waratahs: 15 K Beale, 14 L Turner, 13 R Horne, 12 T Carter, 11 D Mitchell, 10 B Barnes, 9 L Burgess; 1 B Robinson, 2 T Polota-Nau, 3 A Baxter, 4 D Mumm, 5 K Douglas, 6 P McCutcheon, 7 P Waugh (capt), 8 B Mowe

Replacements: 16 D Fitzpatrick, 17 D Palmer/J Tilse, 18 C Thomson, 19 D Dennis, 20 J Holmes, 21 D Halangahu, 22 S Anesi

[Info from Heaven’s Game]

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