Rugby: Chiefs topple the Lions

CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 25: The Chiefs get together after another Brumbies try during the round 11 Super Rugby match between the Brumbies and the Chiefs at Canberra Stadium on April 25, 2014 in Ca

The Chiefs scored three tries in a six-minute spell on either side of halftime to secure a bonus point from a 38-8 win over South Africa's Lions in Super Rugby on Saturday, breathing new life into their title defense.

Center Charlie Ngatai, returning from injury, created one try and scored another in a pivotal three-minute period leading into the break, then prop Paulasi Manu scored three minutes after the resumption to seal a bonus point and the win.

Flyhalf Gareth Anscombe scored the first of the Chiefs' tries while center Bundee Aki and fullback Tim Nanai-Williams scored the fifth and sixth against tiring opposition in the last eight minutes as the two-time defending champions roused themselves from a mid-season form slump.

The Chiefs had three losses, two draws and a narrow win over the lowly Melbourne Rebels in their previous six games, falling out of the lead in the New Zealand conference. Their last two matches resulted in a narrow loss at home to the Crusaders and a heavy loss away to the ACT Brumbies and they faced a further retreat from title contention if they lost again on Saturday.

But the Hamilton-based side found a way to overcome the complete failure of their set piece a ruined scrum and dysfunctional lineout to win for the fifth time in 10 games and to return to the top six.

They have lacked a sound forward platform throughout the season but their determination in the loose and their try-scoring ability they now have 31 tries from 10 matches enabled them to win in spite of that disadvantage.

"Anyone who thinks the Lions are easy is wrong. They're a good side," Chiefs captain Liam Messam said. "I'm really proud of the boys. We had our backs against the wall and we came out and produced a performance.

"It's probably not the flashiest performance but it's a win."

Anscombe had the first try of the match in the 22nd minute and with the late tries to Latimer and Ngatai the Chiefs took a 19-3 lead to halftime. Manu's try immediately after halftime was critical, sealing the four-try bonus point and closing down any chance of a Lions' rally.

The Johannesburg-based Lions did score the next try through winger Courtnall Skosan but the Chiefs had the cushion of a big lead and finished strongly with tries to Aki and Nanai-Williams.

The Chiefs' win completed a clean sweep of home victories for New Zealand teams this round after the Blues win over the Queensland Reds and the Crusaders' over the ACT Brumbies.

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Chiefs 38 (Gareth Anscombe, Tanerau Latimer, Charlie Ngatai, Pauliasi Manu, Bundee Aki, Tim Nanai-Williams tries; Gareth Anscombe 3 conversions; Andrew Horrell conversion), Lions 8 (Courtnall Skosan try; Elton Jantjies penalty). HT: 19-3.

AP
This story has been published from the Associated Press wire which uses US spellings