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.”
Bu hikaye The Rugby Paper dergisinin April 16, 2023 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye The Rugby Paper dergisinin April 16, 2023 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
Ten-try Chiefs show Pirates no mercy
TEN-TRY Exeter inflicted the backlash from six successive defeats in their worst ever start to a Premiership season on a young Pirates side suffering their own problems in the Championship.
South America look to keep on building
AS Sebastián Piñeyrúa's historic six-year term as President of Rugby Sudamérica comes to an end, his replacement shows no signs of slowing down.
Scarratt excited by new pathway
ENGLAND centurion Emily Scarratt is delighted with the new women's BUCS programme which aims to provide a smoother pathway for young aspiring female players.
Baxter: I want to make things better
ROB Baxter will not be walking away from Exeter, the only club still looking for a Premiership victory this season, believing he can get the Chiefs back on track and he cannot bear the thought of anyone else doing the job.
Pearce walks in his father's footsteps
PADDY Pearce is living a dream after emulating his father and great-uncle by playing for the club he supported as a boy, Bristol.
New England group will cause uncertainty
SO JUST when we thought that everything was getting sorted between the RFU, the clubs and players, a number of new agreements and a new group raises its head.
Galthie turns his sights to the future
FRANCE head coach Fabien Galthie offered the clearest hint yet of Les Bleus' future on Wednesday, when he released 19 players back F to their clubs for the ninth and final Top 14 round before the international break.
Gilmore has tightened up our defence - Anderson
CAMERON Anderson has hailed the impact made by defence coach Jason Gilmore, below, since he arrived at The Stoop in the summer.
Ampthill given 11-try lesson in class from Bath
BATH secured a thumping away success in the opening match of their Premiership Rugby Cup campaign against Ampthill at Dillingham Park.
New faces take the plaudits for Saints
NORTHAMPTON handed out a thorough lesson to a tame Leicester team in this one-sided East Midlands derby to launch the Premiership Cup.
