Fresh off a bye week, the Chiefs outlasted their hosts in a physical battle, overcoming an early deficit and never really getting out of range of the Reds.
“It was a bit of a dogfight,” Chiefs captain Luke Jacobson told Stan Sport.
“It was pretty scrappy. We were really just trying to fight for momentum. The Reds are a gutsy team, they’re a tough team to beat here at home as well.
“Really pleased with how we’ve come out on top there. I think we controlled our territory pretty well and we controlled most of the game, but the Reds stayed in it well. They can score from lots of places, they’re a dangerous team, so awesome to get the win there.”
No 8 Wallace Sititi and replacement hooker Samisoni Taukei’aho both scored doubles, accounting for all four of the Chiefs’ tries. Damian McKenzie was strong from the tee, converting all four tries and one of two penalty attempts.
If the Chiefs were to return to the top of the table, the Reds were going to make them work for it.
It took eight minutes for the hosts to take the lead, with left wing Lachie Anderson getting the first points of the night.
Sititi got his first score three minutes later, before the match turned into an arm wrestle in the middle.
It wasn’t until the 36th minute that the scoreboard changed, with a McKenzie penalty nudging the Chiefs in front.
They were then able to see off a dangerous Reds attack just before halftime to go into the break with all the momentum.
Taukei’aho’s injection from the bench provided plenty, with the All Blacks hooker getting a couple of tries from the back of rolling mauls after attacking lineouts.
Coach Jono Gibbes will be happy with how his side defended too, missing eight tackles to the Reds’ 32; Sititi keeping busy on that side of the ball too, with 22 tackles and a turnover won.
Taukie’aho’s second try, in the 70th minute after a yellow card to Reds prop Jeff Toomaga-Allen, seemed like it had given the side enough of a buffer to hang on for the win. However, he was quickly answered by Reds teen prospect Treyvon Pritchard four minutes later.
After that the Chiefs continued to push the Reds and Sititi’s 79th-minute try sealed the win.
They now move to the top of the ladder level on points with the Hurricanes but ahead on the first tiebreaking metric, which is number of wins.
The Hurricanes will look to take the top spot back when they play Moana Pasifika on Saturday night.
Chiefs 31 (Wallace Sititi 2, Samisoni Taukei’aho 2; Damian McKenzie 4 cons, pen)
Reds 21 (Lachie Anderson, Joe Brial, Treyvon Pritchard tries; Harry McLaughlin-Phillips con, Louis Werchon 2 cons)
HT: 10-7
