Waratahs scalp Chiefs
Posted: Sunday March 14, 1999 02:09 PM
SYDNEY, Australia (Reuters) -- New South Wales maintained its unbeaten start to this season's Super 12 series with a hard-fought 36-30 win over New Zealand's Wakaito Chiefs on Saturday.
The Waratahs scored five tries to the Chiefs' three to secure a bonus point and condemn the New Zealander's to their third straight loss, but only after snuffing out a determined fightback from the Chiefs.
Playing their first match at home after drawing with the Sharks and upsetting the highly-fancied Cats on the South African leg of its draw, NSW looked to have the match under control when they opened up a 31-6 lead early in the second half.
But the Chiefs stormed back with three converted tries in less than six minutes to get within four points before the Waratahs scored again to clinch victory.
NSW confirmed its growing reputation as genuine semifinal contenders for this year's series with a polished display in the first half.
They crossed for three tries in the opening term to go to the break leading 23-6 and began the second half strongly before the Chiefs hit back.
Winger Matt Dowling scored the first try when he raced on to a perfectly timed cross-field kick from fullback Duncan McRae in the 14th minute.
McRae and Dowling combined again three minutes later to send hooker Phil Kearns in for a rare touchdown before former Springbok captain Tiaan Strauss dived over from a rolling maul in the 34th minute.
Chiefs fullback Matthew Cooper, who was successful with all six kicks at goal, landed two first half penalties while NSW fly-half Christian Warner, who managed only four from 10, succeeded with two penalties and a conversion.
Warner made up for his indifferent kicking early in the second half when he weaved his way through some woeful defense to score his team's fourth try, guaranteeing them a bonus point, then added a penalty to give his team a 31-6 lead.
But the Chiefs, who started the match without winger Jonah Lomu then lost second rower Ian Jones early on, stormed back into the match after South African referee Andre Watson sin-binned NSW second rower John Welborn and center Nathan Grey.
With a two-man advantage, the Chiefs began to run the ball at will with winger Roger Randle, center Walter Little and flanker Glen Marsh each backing up to score in quick succession.
Cooper converted all three tries to cut the deficit to 31-27 with 20 minutes remaining before NSW captain Michael Brial was driven over from a maul to give the home side a nine-point lead.
Cooper reduced the margin back to six with his third penalty in the 67th minute but the Waratahs hung on desperately as neither side was able to score again in the closing 13 minutes.
NSW will play South Africa's Bulls in Sydney next Saturday in the fourth round of the Super 12 while the Chiefs have a bye.
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