Rugby: Barrett's thundering boot humbles Chiefs

The Chiefs. Photo / Getty Images

The real fireworks at Owen Delany Park last night came from Mother Nature herself as thunder and lightning punctuated a Chiefs defeat to the Hurricanes.

It was their first loss from three pre-season matches, but the Chiefs started with fiery intent, rumbling the ball through phase after phase down the field. However the home side couldn't finish things off.

It was left to Beauden Barrett and Aaron Cruden to boot penalties through the half, the home side going into the break 9-6 ahead.

Chiefs coach Dave Rennie would have been concerned about the pressure on their scrum.

From the kickoff, the Chiefs turned over Hurricanes ball and worked their way to the tryline where the visitors were caught offside. The Chiefs took a scrum instead of the kick, Fritz Lee working the blindside to open space for Brendon Leonard to get the first try. Cruden converted.

A break in the rain marked a turnaround for the Hurricanes, who put heat on the Chiefs inside their half for the next 15 minutes. The visitors turned down two opportunities to kick for goal and were rewarded with a try to Jack Lam which was converted by Barrett, reducing the Chiefs' lead to 16-13.

Rennie would have been pleased with his forwards' hustle in the second half as they out-muscled their opposites at the breakdown.

Hungry for the win, the Chiefs chose to kick for goal instead of running the ball with 15 minutes remaining. Cruden took the lead out to 19-13.

But the Hurricanes replied shortly after, rumbling it up the middle for replacement prop Tristan Moran to go over. Barrett's conversion put them ahead, for the first time, 20-19.

They were soon back on the Chiefs line, Barrett's penalty making it 23-19 after defenders strayed offside.

With time up, the Chiefs had a last chance to win the match when they had a 5m scrum. They blew it and the Hurricanes cleared to end the match.

23 Hurricanes

Tries: J Lam, T Moran; pens: B Barrett 3;
cons: Barrett 2.

19 Chiefs

Try: B Leonard;
pens: A Cruden 4;
con: Cruden.
HT: 6-9.