Red faces as Chiefs fall to Queensland

by Craig Tiriana in Hamilton | 6th March 2010

It's back to reality for the 2010 Chiefs.

Their unbeaten run in this year's Super 14 competition came to an abrupt end last night with the unfancied Queensland Reds toppling them 23-18 at Waikato Stadium.

It was an unhappy way for Chiefs captain Mils Muliaina to return to play, his side giving up a 15-point lead to pick up just a solitary bonus point.

"You can't start better than that but credit to the Reds, they attacked around the fringes and [our] tackling was shocking," Muliaina said.

A simple tough forward orientated effort led by outstanding Reds flanker Daniel Braid saw the visitors end their own four game losing streak to the Chiefs.

The homeside ran out of steam while the Reds finished stronger for their second win of the season.

"They had a lot of the ball [in the second half] and Braidy did a good job stealing our ball," Muliaina said.

The Chiefs now have a lot of work to do before they host the Crusaders next Friday night.

The confidence borne from consecutive wins on the road in South Africa and another win in Australia was evident as the Chiefs ran rampant at the start of their first home game.

With All Blacks wings Sitiveni Sivivatu and Lelia Masaga scoring a try each inside the opening 10 minutes, the visiting Reds appeared to be in for a tough night in front of 13,300 spectators.

It got tougher when prop Sona Taumalolo dived over for a third try but with Stephen Donald struggling with his kicking, the Chiefs didn't add the required extras.

Donald, who had been a star to date, had a horror, kicking one from five.

The injury plagued Reds also didn't fall over and they scratched their way back into the game with a try to Will Chambers and Quade Cooper got stuck in with the boot, kicking two penalties and a conversion to head into halftime 18-13 down.

Cooper eventually contributed a telling 13 points.

The Chiefs lost their way, perhaps the results of a just four-day turnaround since they flew into New Zealand from their three-match tour.

The certainly appeared anxious in attack, pushing passes and fumbling when control would have paid dividends.

The Reds relished the close quarter grind with their captain and halfback Will Genia marshalling a strong effort around the fringes, which ground the tiring Chiefs down.

Their close quarter defence kept them ahead once winger Luke Morohan chased up a Braid punt for a long-range try which Cooper converted.

Chiefs coach Ian Foster went to the bench in the search of fresh legs but a wall of Reds' defence repelled every drive and the homeside was forced to try to attack from deep in their own half.

It took the Chiefs less than three minutes to impose themselves in their first appearance at home.

A dab from Brendon Leonard from a lineout and a pick and go from Cullum Retalick gave the momentum for an angling Sivivatu to force himself over for the opening try.

It was his sixth against the Reds for the Chiefs.

Masaga scored in the opposite corner as the Chiefs took advantage of some woeful midfield tackling by the Reds.

Taumololo deserved his try putting in a strong 80-minute effort, as did openside flanker Tanerau Latimer.

Scorers: Queensland Reds 23 (Will Chambers, Luke Morahan tries; Quade Cooper 3 pen, 2 con) Chiefs 18 (Sitiveni Sivivatu, Lelia Masaga, Sona Taumalolo; Stephen Donald pen). Halftime: 13-18.