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Waratahs hold off Chiefs

Sydney - Defending Super Rugby champions, the Waratahs, have beaten 2012 and 2013 champions, the Chiefs, 38-36 in a pre-season friendly at Campbelltown Sports Stadium.

In the first half over 5 000 fans were treated to a running rugby, try scoring festival played at great pace with over 60 points scored in the first forty minutes, the Chiefs' official website reports.

The Waratahs went out to a quick 7-point lead after try by wing Taqele Naiyaravoro, to which Chiefs flyhalf Marty McKenzie replied with a penalty.  

The hosts quickly added to their tally after some end-to-end football saw wing Rob Horne score after being set up by Adam Ashley-Cooper. McKenzie again replied with a penalty.

New Chiefs recruit Hosea Gear showed his class on his return back to Southern Hemisphere rugby when he scored the Chiefs’ first try of the night.

The Chiefs took the lead when they slotted a penalty and wing Bryce Heem crossed the line for the Chiefs’ second try which was successfully converted.

Waratahs fullback Israel Folau evened up the score with his try which Bernard Foley converted.

Chiefs lock Mike Fitzgerald managed to hang on to the ball and cross the line to give the Chiefs the lead again, which McKenzie converted.

Rob Horne crossed the line for his second try of the night for the Waratahs which was converted to narrow the Chiefs lead.

The Waratahs took the lead right on half-time with a converted try scored by Jacques Potgieter to end the half 33-28 in their favour.

Fans got what they had waited for in the second half when Sonny Bill Williams took to the field with Israel Folau remaining on for the ‘Tahs.

Damian McKenzie opened the second half with a penalty.

The second half proved to be much slower than first with the score remaining stagnant for over twenty minutes with scrums at both ends the highlight of the third quarter of the match.

Horne added some spark to the half when he crossed the line to complete his hat-trick for the night which was converted to give the hosts a 7-point buffer

Chiefs loose forward Tevita Kolomatangi narrowed the score line with his five pointer, with the conversion to level the match unsuccessful.  With 30 seconds on the clock the Chiefs were awarded a penalty attempt to secure the game which failed to cross the bar. 

During the match, in true pre-season fashion, both teams opted for running rugby instead of penalty kicks and treated the fans to a highly enjoyable rugby spectacle.

Scorers:

Waratahs:

Tries: Taqele Naiyaravoro, Rob Horne (3), Israel Folau, Jacques Potgieter
Conversions: Bernard Foley (4).

Chiefs:

Tries: Hosea Gear, Bryce Heem, Mike Fitzgerald, Tevita Kolomatangi
Conversions: Marty McKenzie (2)
Penalties: Marty McKenzie (3), Damian McKenzie

Teams:

Waratahs:

15 Israel Folau, 14 Rob Horne, 13 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 12 Kurtley Beale, 11 Taqele Naiyaravoro, 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Nick Phipps, 8 Wycliff Palu, 7 Michael Hooper (c), 6 Jacques Potgieter, 5 Will Skelton, 4 Mitchell Chapman, 3 Sekope Kepu, 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1 Benn Robinson

Substitutes: Not available

Chiefs (squad):
Michael Allardice, Johan Bardoul, Mitchell Crosswell, Hika Elliot, Jarrod Firth, Mike Fitzgerald, Mitchell Graham, Tevita Kolomatangi, Pauliasi Manu, Quentin McDonald, Jamie Mackintosh, Rhys Marshall, Sean Polwart, Matt Symons, Siate Tokolahi, Maa'ma Vaipulu, Hosea Gear, Bryce Heem, Ngataua Hukatai, Anton Lienert-Brown, Damian McKenzie, Marty McKenzie, Tom Marshall, Augustine Pulu, Robbie Robinson, Seta Tamanivalu, Brad Weber, Sonny Bill Williams


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