Chiefs claim bonus point victory while Reds defeat Sharks

The Chiefs got their Super Rugby campaign off to a fine start when they claimed a deserved 24‑15 victory over the Highlanders in Dunedin.

The result is a momentous one for the men from Hamilton as it ends a six‑match losing streak against the Highlanders.

The Highlanders drew first blood courtesy of a Lima Sopoaga penalty inside the first five minutes of the game but then came alive in the 10th minute when James Lowe went over for the first try.

The hosts were dealt a massive blow on the hour‑mark when their co‑captain and full‑back Ben Smith was forced to leave the field when he banged his head on the ground after competing for a high ball with Damian McKenzie.

The Highlanders continued to attack but the Chiefs stood firm in defence and two Sopoaga penalties, late in the half, was the home side's only reward before the interval.

The Chiefs continued to attack and were rewarded two minutes after the restart when Hika Elliot crossed for their third try after combining brilliantly with Tawera Kerr‑Barlow at a lineout inside the Highlanders.

Sopoaga added two further penalties midway through the half but Cruden secured the win for the visitors when he landed a three‑pointer from the kicking tee in the 68th minute.

Meanwhile the Reds also started their Super Rugby campaign on a winning note when they claimed a hard‑fought 28‑26 win over the Sharks in Brisbane.

The Reds got the rub of the green and outscored the visitors by four tries to two, although the Sharks will be kicking themselves as they dominated for large periods but failed to secure the result especially in the second half when Douglas and Hunt were sent to the sin bin.

The Reds dominated the territory and possession stakes for the next 10 minutes but all they had to show for their efforts was a 23rd minute penalty from Cooper after the Sharks were pinged for offside play in defence.

Three minutes later, Lambie added another penalty, after a Samu Kerevi indiscretion at a ruck, but the Reds cancelled that effort out when Scott Higginbotham crossed for their opening try after spotting a gap at a ruck close to the Sharks' try‑line.

The Reds were reduced to 14 men in the 57th minute when Douglas was yellow carded for a challenge on Beast Mtawarira's neck and for the next 10 minutes the Sharks restricted play mostly to their forwards.

Source: Sanzar