THE Chiefs maintained their unbeaten start to the season as they overturned a nine-point half-time deficit to beat the Hurricanes 33-17 to reclaim top spot.
It was an outrageous start from the Chiefs as centre Daniel Rona latched onto Emoni Narawa’s deft grubber to score and round off a swift counter-attacking move.
But the lead was shortlived as Canes flanker Devan Flanders barrelled over the line three minutes later after a series of sharp offloads.
Jordie Barrett and Damian McKenzie traded penalties before scrumhalf Cam Roigard crossed for his sixth try of the season to give the Canes a 17-8 half-time lead.
But the Chiefs shifted gears in the second half. Pita Gus Sowakula powered over the line to reduce the deficit before McKenzie’s penalty gave the Chiefs the lead.
Scrum-half Cortez Ratima then darted over from the back of a scrum before McKenzie’s try capped off a ruthless second-half showing.
Clayton McMillan’s side now have seven straight wins to start the season and are the only unbeaten side in 2023.
“It’s not easy to win down here, and the Hurricanes have had a hell of a start,” Chiefs co-captain Brad Weber said. “We knew it was going to be an arm wrestle, we just had to stay in it. I told the boys just to trust it and it would all start coming, and sure enough, it did.”
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