The Reds produced their best performance of the season to end the Chiefs’ 10-match winning run in Super Rugby Pacific following a superb 25-22 victory in New Plymouth.
That was despite a strange incident which saw the Chiefs ‘charge down’ a conversion and stop Reds fly-half Lawson Creighton from adding two extra points.
Brad Thorn’s men had just levelled matters through George Blake’s try when Creighton lined up what appeared a simple kick at goal.
However, as he started his run-up, which automatically allows opposition players to start advancing, the ball fell off the tee.
🫢 Every kicker's nightmare. Poor Lawson Creighton. #CHIvRED pic.twitter.com/PWFaqWPryv
— Planet Rugby (@PlanetRugby) May 12, 2023
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It was an unfortunate incident for the pivot but he still seemed bemused when a Chiefs player, completely legally, nabbed the ball away from him as he tried to retake it.
That error almost cost the visitors as they were put under significant pressure at the end of the contest. Fortunately for Creighton, the Queensland outfit held out for a momentous win which very much kept them in the play-off mix.
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The Chiefs ended the contest on the front foot but they also started it in the ascendency as Etene Nanai-Seturo touched down before Blake’s response.
Nanai-Seturo would then regain the hosts’ advantage but Tate McDermott touched down on the stroke of half-time to give the Australians hope.
The Reds took that momentum into the second period as Jock Campbell crossed the whitewash from close range for a 17-12 lead.
Damian McKenzie reduced the arrears from the tee but, when Zane Nonggorr went over, the visitors held a seven-point buffer with 10 minutes remaining.
Missed kicks were keeping the Chiefs in contention, however, and the Super Rugby Pacific leaders took advantage, levelling matters through Samipeni Finau’s converted score.
But the Reds gathered the restart, earned a penalty and youngster Tom Lynagh kicked the winning points to win the game for Thorn’s charges, despite the New Zealand side’s late pressure.
Video credit: Super Rugby Pacific