31 May 2014

Waratahs beat Chiefs

6:33 pm on 31 May 2014

The New South Wales Waratahs have beaten Super Rugby champions the Chiefs 33-17 in New Plymouth.

Two second-half tries to replacement wing Bundee Aki weren't enough for the Chiefs, who trailed 13-3 at half-time after Wallabies star Israel Folau's scored the only first-half try.

Waratahs captain Dave Dennis sealed the victory with eight minutes left, then first five Bernard Foley scored the visitors' third try right at the end.

The Chiefs had clawed their way back to 16-10 down with about 20 minutes left, after Aki was ruled to have grounded the ball from an Aaron Cruden kick.

Then Aki got his second from another kick in the corner and Cruden converted for a 17-16 lead.

But a penalty got the Waratahs back in front, before Dennis raced away down the wing, and Foley capped things off before the final whistle.

The victory consolidates the Waratahs' hold on the Australian conference and sees them go outright top overall for now, while the Chiefs stay outside the playoff places.