HIGHLIGHTS-Rugby-Super Rugby week nine
The Chiefs ran in five tries to extend their unbeaten run against the Blues to 15 matches after a breathless Hamilton thriller on Saturday. The Blues, looking to put together five straight wins for the first time since 2011, never gave up and the home side had to fight tooth and nail for the win after Ma'a Nonu crossed for his second try in the 78th minute.
Flanker Lachlan Boshier crossed for a brace of tries for the Chiefs, who also had scores from scrumhalf Brad Weber, hulking winger Ataata Moeakiola and Jesse Parete as they beat New Zealand opponents for the first time this season. A five-pointer from fullback Melani Nanai and the first from evergreen centre Nonu kept the Blues in touch before a brilliant finish in the corner in the 66th minute from winger Rieko Ioane, his eighth try of the season, set up the late drama.
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MELBOURNE REBELS 24 STORMERS 41 The Stormers struck early and ran in three tries in a nine-minute burst after the break to end their Australasian tour on a high with an emphatic victory over the Rebels in Melbourne.
Three successive defeats had made for a miserable trip for the Stormers but a brilliant individual try from winger Dillyn Leyds and a huge defensive effort gave them hope of returning to Cape Town with a win when they led 10-3 at halftime. Reece Hodge intercepted a Jean-Luc du Plessis pass for a converted try that levelled up the scores straight after the break but Juarno Augustus, Damian de Allende and Ruhan Nel then crossed in quick succession for the visitors.
Will Genia and Campbell Magnay scored tries for the Australian Conference leaders to cut the deficit to 10 points with three minutes remaining, but Nel raced almost the length of the pitch for his second five-pointer to seal the victory. CANTERBURY CRUSADERS 43 OTAGO HIGHLANDERS 17
Super Rugby champions the Canterbury Crusaders recovered a halftime deficit for the second week in a row to thrash the Otago Highlanders and extend their unbeaten run at home to 24 matches. Ten points down after 12 minutes, the Crusaders ran in six tries to secure a bonus point victory and stretch their lead over the resting Wellington Hurricanes at the top of the New Zealand conference to 11 points.
Starting outside backs Braydon Ennor, David Havili and Sevu Reece all crossed before replacements Mitchell Drummond and Will Jordan added two more tries. The Highlanders also conceded a penalty try from a five-metre scrum. Fullback Ben Smith, playing his 150th Super Rugby match, gave the visitors a flying start when he crossed in the third minute and Josh Ioane slotted a penalty soon afterwards but the flyhalf's 74th-minute try was only ever going to be a consolation. (Editing by Amlan Chakraborty and Andrew Cawthorne )
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