23 Mar 2014

Chiefs shocked by Force

12:47 pm on 23 March 2014

The Chiefs have suffered their first loss of the Super Rugby season, falling 18-15 to the Western Force in Perth.

Two tries to Force captain Matt Hodgson laid the platform for his side's upset over the defending champions.

Hodgson scored his first after 13 minutes as the Force stormed over the Chiefs' defence from a lineout, and again six minutes into the second half with a pick-up from close range.

The Chiefs were unable to convert late pressure into a score and had to rely on the boots of Aaron Cruden and Gareth Anscombe for their points, all coming from penalties.

The Force have now won their last three games and are just outside the playoff places in seventh overall. The Chiefs drop to third.

In other results, the ACT Brumbies beat South Africans the Stormers 25-15 to move up to top in the Australian conference and second overall.

The Sharks remain top despite their first loss of the season, going down 23-19 to the Bulls in Pretoria in an all-South African derby.

South Africans the Lions beat the Queensland Reds 23-20 at Ellis Park. The Reds finished with 13 men on the park. Quade Cooper scored all the visitors' points including two tries.