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From the RugbyWA Live Match Call - www.rugbywa.com.au
Emirates Western Force vs Chiefs. Kickoff 10.35am WA time, Saturday 14 April.
Five minutes til kick off in Hamilton. No late changes to either side. It's sunny at the moment, but there are clouds hovering and showers are expected. Pretty good crowd in Mooloo country, the Land of the Mitch if you will.
Referee today is Craig Joubert from South Africa. Force to kick off, and we're away...
Second minute and Tai McIsaac is pinged for not rolling away at the breakdown. Stephen Donald will kick for goal from about 40m in a swirling breeze - and he lands it nicely. First points go to the Chiefs, 3-0
The Force hit straight back! Several phases in succession for the boys in blue sees Nathan Sharpe stroll over for a try after Cam Shepherd and Matt Giteau created some space. Giteau converts, Force lead 7-3 after 5 minutes.
8 mins and the Force are flying in attack - great breaks from O'Young and Drew Mitchell
Oh no! Cam Shepherd throws a terrible pass, which Roy Kinikinilau intercepts and takes it 80m to score. Donald converts, 10-7 Chiefs. Chris O'Young off to the blood bin, Jon McGrath on. 9 mins gone
Scott Fava makes a lovely break, offloads to Matt Hodgson who is taken high by Kinikinilau and the penalty is awarded 25m out directly in front. Giteau kicks the goal, 10-10 after just 13 minutes!
All action start here in Hamilton. Both sides seem intent on playing running attractive rugby today
Wow the Force are making line breaks at will... some average tackling from the Chiefs
17 mins and Mr Joubert asks the TMO to ajudicate as Gits appears to have scored in the corner... it's a Yes! Try time to Kid Dynamite! More soft defence there from the Chiefs' big men; Gitty just went straight under some big guys. Gits can't convert, 15-10 now.
Force have had 78% of possession in the first 20 minutes
Try to the Chiefs... where is the defence today? Leila Masaga ambles over after the Chiefs take it 60m in several phases. Donald converts; Chiefs lead 17-15 after 23 mins. Kelleher replaced by Brendan Leonard (blood)
Donald criuses through some flimsy defence, but his kick ahead for Masaga is covered by Shep.
Breakaway try to the Force is called back after Shep puts a foot in touch. End to end stuff here
Penalty against Taipan is reversed after Robinson pulls at his headgear. Force in good attacking position again
30 mins and some terrible defence allows halfback Leonard to take the ball 60 metres from the back of the scrum all the way to score the Chiefs third try. Conversion attempt by Donald hits the upright, but it's 22-15 now.
More great attacking play from the Chiefs is ended as Shepherd pushes Kinikinilau into touch just 3 metres out.
37 mins and Kinikinilau scores under the posts about 15 phases after a 5m lineout. Donald converts the fourth Chiefs try to make it 29-15.
HALF TIME: Chiefs 29 Emirates Western Force 15. Some great attacking rugby in the first 40 minutes, but really the most noticable area was the defence of both sides - or lack thereof I should say. Giteau, Mitchell, Shepherd and Pelesasa have made breaks and looked dangerous. The backrow has looked unsettled and I think we may see David Pusey sooner rather than later. Winger Kinikinilau has been terrific, while Stephen Donald has run the attack nicely.
Chiefs have had 69% of territory while the Force have had 61% of possession. The missed tackle count is 8 to 7, but I think whoever is keeping that stat fell asleep at the 15 minute mark.
Fantastic start from the Force - try time for Shepherd after Pelesasa, Hardy and Brown set him up. Giteau converts from the sideline to make it 29-22 after 42 mins.
Penalty against Matt Hodgson at the breakdown. Donald kicks the goal from a tough angle. Chiefs lead back out to 10, 32-22 after 44 mins.
My goodness - another try, this time it's Tanerau Latimer for the Chiefs. Sione Lauaki set that one up after strolling past Junior Pelesasa's attempted tackle. Donald misses the kick, 37-22 now. Troy Takiari replaces AJ Whalley now too. 50 mins gone
And another try... Tasesa Lavea takes the Sivivatu offload and crosses untouched next to the posts. Force had just turned the all over on their own line. Donald converts, 44-22 after 54 mins.
And now Nathan Sharpe is down in the hands of Doc Steele and physio Rob Naish. Pusey set to come on. Scott Staniforth has come on for Ryan Cross, who has not had his best day. Sharpe is ok and will soldier on.
Try to Drew Mitchell! Gits puts him into a hole after the forwards work hard to draw in the defence. Gits converts from right in front, 44-29 now in the 59th minute
Pusey on for Rudi Vedelago in the second row.
60th minute and it's a seventh try to the Chiefs. Leonard gets his second from the scrum base 22m out. 49-29 now as Donald hits the upright again. A couple of Chiefs subs too - Ormsby and Payne replace Gibbes and masaga.
Luke Doherty out there for Scott Fava
Luke Holmes on for Tai McIsaac for the Force, Stephen Bates for Lauaki for the Chiefs. 65 mins
68 mins and a superb individual try to Matt Giteau. Both teams throwing the ball around, and as the big forwards tire the quick men step up. Gits converts, 49-36.
Lavea off, Tuipolotu has come on. 72 mins
Penalty to the Chiefs for obstruction against Nathan Sharpe. Donald will try his luck from 55m. It's a beaut of a kick to bring up the half century. Chiefs lead 52-36 after 74 mins.
Wonderful skills from Leonard and Messam put Kinikinilau over for his hat-trick of tries. The big winger has had an outstanding game. Donald can't convert, but his team leads 57-36 now. AJ Whalley returns for Takiari.
Brendan Leonard has a hat-trick now too! For the third time the scrumhalf just cruises from the scrumbase, and a couple of passes later he scores again. 64-36.
FULL TIME: Chiefs 64 Emirates Western Force 36. 100 points and 14 tries in 80 minutes - the crowd at Waikato Stadium certainly got value for money. Roy Kinikinilau and Brendan Leonard starred for the Chiefs with three tries apiece, and they were not alone. Matt Giteau scored twice while Shep, Sharpie and Drew also crossed for tries. Coach Mitchell will be very concerned with the defence, which has conceded 117 points in the last two games. A bonus point for the Force will be scant consolation, who will play the Brumbies at Canberra Stadium on Friday night. The Chiefs are now fourth, jumping the Force and the Brumbies on the table. We'll see you on Friday night.