By 3 News online staff
The Chiefs have capped off a great season with a 37-6 win over the Sharks in Hamilton tonight to win the Super Rugby title for 2012.
With rain making the surface slippery at Waikato Stadium, the home side scored the only try of the first half, and coupled with some penalty nudges and a conversion from Chiefs’ first-five Aaron Cruden too a lead 13-3 into the break.
Sonny Bill Williams made the initial break that led to the try after 20 minutes, and with quick ball from the break down the Chiefs spread it wide to find Tim Nanai-Williams ranging out on the opposite wing. Nanai-Williams beat the first up defender and went over in the tackle of two Sharks players to score.
Chiefs’ coach Dave Rennie was mostly happy with boys at the break but wanted a lift in intensity, worried that the slow start to the match would be emulated after the break. He added that if they raised the bar from the start of the match and continued it for the remainder that the Chiefs had “a good show to clean this up”.
And that’s exactly what happened.
Five minutes into the second half – after pressure resulted in a charge down to the Chiefs – Kane Thompson took the ball from the back of a five metre scrum as the Sharks’ defence opened up like the Red Sea.
Thompson crashed over, with the TMO awarded the try and Cruden’s conversion made it 20-3.
First-five for the Sharks Frederic Michalak then pegged back three after Cruden had a slight brain explosion and tried a chip keep deep inside his own 222 only for the Chiefs backs to be ruled offside. The Sharks, instead of keeping some pressure on with some rare territory and possession, took the 3 points from right out in front to cut the deficit to 14 points, 20-6.
The nightmare for the Sharks continued when they tried to attack deep from their own half with 62 mi9nutes showing on the clock.
First-five Michalak looked to find his centre JP Pietersen but as he got the ball he encountered the full force and bulk of Sonny Bill Williams. The loose ball was scooped up by substitute Lelia Masaga who flew down the win and with a subtle in-and-away wrong-footed Patrick Lambie to score. Cruden converted and the Chiefs led 27-6.
Minutes later Cruden added another penalty for the home side to lead 30-6 with less than 10 minutes to play.
With two minutes to go Chiefs’ centre SBW cut under the posts to wrap things up, the conversion making it 37-6.
3 News