Rugby: Chiefs and Hurricanes draw

Neemia Tialata on the charge during his 100th Super Rugby match. Photo / Getty Images

Chiefs 18 Hurricanes 18
The Chiefs and the Hurricanes played out an 18-all draw at a wet Waikato Stadium in Hamilton tonight.

The two New Zealand conference cellar-dwellers couldn't be split after 80 minutes, both scoring two tries a piece after the Chiefs blew a 10-point halftime lead.

Stephen Donald had a chance to secure the win in the final seconds but had a drop goal attempt charged down.

The Chiefs opened with a try in just the second minute when an Aaron Cruden kick was charged down and Richard Kahui pounced on the ball to score. Donald converted from in front.

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Donald put the Chiefs out to a 10-0 lead in the ninth minute when he converted a penalty from 45 metres out.

The Hurricanes hit back in the 20th minute through captain Andrew Hore, capping off a strange week for the All Black hooker after the franchise revealed he and Ma'a Nonu won't be re-signed for next season. Hore dived over the line from close range as the Hurricanes made the most of an attacking lineout. Cruden missed the conversion to leave the scoreline at 10-5.

Handling errors were frequent in the opening half as the players battled with a greasy ball.

The Chiefs crossed over a second time just three minute before the break when lock Isaac Ross scored shortly after an attacking five metre scrum to give the home side a 15-5 lead at halftime.

The Hurricanes eliminated the 10 point deficit in just the opening six minutes of the second half.

Hosea Gear gave the Hurricanes the perfect start to the second half, finishing off an impressive linebreak by Nonu to score in the 42nd minute. Cruden converted the try before adding another three points three minutes later with a penalty.

The levelled scoreline only lasted six minutes as Donald struck a second penalty to put the Chiefs out to a 18-15 lead with 30 minutes remaining.

Cruden converted a penalty with 12 minutes remaining to make it 18-18.

Hore was pleased that, after a difficult week, they had avoided defeat but the battle to avoid the wooden spoon remained.

"We played some pretty good rugby really, considering the conditions were a bit slippery," he said.

"It was obviously pleasing to score that try at the start of the second half. It got us back into it and it could have gone either way."

Chiefs captain Mils Muliaina was disappointed his men couldn't fight their way out of last place.

"I think for most of the game we managed to hold possession. I was disappointed with the drop goal at the end ... I thought we had control and I would have liked to play a few more phases before going for it," he said.

"You always want to go out there and win, you don't want to come off with a draw."

The Hurricanes now have 43 points to the Chiefs' 42 and their fate will be decided when they take on playoffs contenders, the Crusaders and the Reds respectively in next weekend's last round of the regular season.


Chiefs 18
Tries: Richard Kahui, Isaac Ross. Pens: Stephen Donald 2. Con: Stephen Donald.

Hurricanes 18
Tries: Andrew Hore, Hosea Gear. Pens: Aaron Cruden 2. Con: Cruden

- HERALD ONLINE/AAP