The Chiefs have recorded a brilliant comeback over the Bulls in Hamilton, clawing their way back from 28-14 down to claim a 41-28 victory in Hamilton
Second half tries to Brodie Retallick, Solomon Alaimolo and Anton Lienert-Brown sealed the win, as the Chiefs notched a win in their first home match of the season.
FULLTIME: Chiefs 41 Bulls 28
TRY! Bulls scrum behind their own 22. They feed but the scrum collapses. The siren goes in the background as Galant has the ball. The Bulls go wide but they can't go forward.
Pollard is tackled by Boshier on the five metre line. The Bulls now back behind their own posts but they've lost it - and conceded!
Lienert-Brown grabs the loose ball and he's crossed over and scored to seal an epic Chiefs win!
McKenzie with the kick, and he's got it! What a win for the Chiefs!!!
79 mins: Chiefs 34 Bulls 28
Alaimalo goes close to adding another try, but is forced over the sideline. The Bulls have a defensive lineout, before getting rid of the ball into touch. The Chiefs will have a lineout now. Marty McKenzie goes wide to Alaimalo, who is tackled shy of the line.
The Chiefs close here, but Ross loses the ball! The Bulls can win this game, if they can go end to end and score. They're back to 15 as well.
75 mins: Chiefs 34 Bulls 28
TRY! Another scrum for the Chiefs, with Weber feeding the ball to Fa'auli - who chips the perfect kick over the top for Alaimalo to chase! The winger beats everyone and scores brilliantly in the corner! What a try for the Chiefs
McKenzie lines up the kick, looking for an eight point lead going into the final five minutes - but he's missed! Chiefs lead by six.
70 mins: Chiefs 29 Bulls 28
The Chiefs look for the lineout with the man advantage. Retallick wins and the Chiefs hold the ball. Weber moves the ball to McKenzie who kicks over the top. Gelant claims but the referee goes back for a penalty!
The Chiefs with another chance with a scrum this time. Weber feeds and gives to McKenzie, and the Chiefs go at the Bulls again, but Smit turns the ball over! Brilliant for the visitors.
68 mins: Chiefs 29 Bulls 28
This could be a red for the Bulls! Damian McKenzie is taken out late, with the shoulder, and high by van Vuuren. This gets worse the more you look at it. There's no way this is anything other than a red card.
It's only going to be a yellow, that is a horrible decision. Bulls down to 14 for the next 10 minutes.
67 mins: Chiefs 29 Bulls 28
Pollard in trouble for the Bulls now after running into Retallick. The Chiefs close to another try but Allardice can't hold on! All the momentum with the Chiefs at the moment.
64 mins: Chiefs 29 Bulls 28
Penalty! The Bulls give away a penalty and the Chiefs want a shot at goal! McKenzie lines up the kick just in front of the 10m line to give the Chiefs the lead.
McKenzie strikes it beautifully and it's over! Chiefs now lead by one!
59 mins: Chiefs 26 Bulls 28
Again the Bulls hit back immediately with a beauty! The referee wants to send this upstairs for a possible obstruction. Gelant slices right through the Chiefs, but de Jager's blocked Retallick. Gelant gets the pass to Papier who sprints away to score under the posts.
No try the decision! Huge moment in this game.
58 mins: Chiefs 26 Bulls 28
TRY! Boshier steals the ball and the Chiefs are looking good right now! McKenzie makes the break as the Chiefs move the ball through the hands. Retallick gets the ball and charges at the line, he's scored! What a run from Retallick, his second of the night!
McKenzie with the kick to level the scores, but he's missed! Bulls ahead by two.
55 mins: Chiefs 21 Bulls 28
Again the Chiefs run before getting the ball back to Falcon, who kicks but the ball's not out. The Bulls launch another counter attack, with Kriel going close to the line. The Chiefs hot on defence but Lienert-Brown steals the ball from Pollard out of nowhere!
52 mins: Chiefs 21 Bulls 28
The Bulls drive, and the Chiefs' defence holds firm and win a penalty! Sam Cane the hero this time.
51 mins: Chiefs 21 Bulls 28
The Bulls throw and win the advantage as they go the lineout drive. The referee wants a word with Sam Cane, this looks like it could be the last warning for the Chiefs.
The Bulls go for another lineout.
50 mins: Chiefs 21 Bulls 28
The Chiefs give away another penalty for offside, and the Bulls want another lineout!
44 mins: Chiefs 21 Bulls 28
TRY! The Chiefs with an attacking lineout, and the forwards drive! They get the ball to the line and work it over through Mitchell Brown! Great start to the half for the Chiefs, but Brown's stayed down afterwards.
McKenzie with another kick, and he's got this one too!
42 mins: Chiefs 14 Bulls 28
Straight away McKenzie breaks! He gets the ball back to Lienert-Brown before the Chiefs get the advantage. Falcon kicks over the top to Harris out on the win, but he's bundled into touch, the referee goes back for the penalty.
41 mins: Chiefs 14 Bulls 28
Both sides back out for the start of the second half. McKenzie kicks off and the Chiefs win it back in the air through Retallick!
HALFTIME: Chiefs 14 Bulls 28
Pollard boots the ball into touch to end a frenetic first half. Brilliant attack from the Bulls sees them with a 14-point lead going into the break. The Chiefs will need to regroup in the break, by no means out of the contest.
38 mins: Chiefs 14 Bulls 28
42 mins: Chiefs 14 Bulls 28
TRY! The Bulls hit back straight away with one of the tries of the season! Papier with a break after taking a box kick from Weber, he goes right the way up to the 10m line before finding Kriel.
Kriel has one man to beat, before finding Pollard back inside him, and he races away to score unopposed.
Pollard also manages to convert his own kick. The Bulls restore their 14 point lead.
37 mins: Chiefs 14 Bulls 28
TRY! The Chiefs attacking right on the Bulls' line, Weber waits for the forwards as Cane picks-and-goes. Boshier has a crack but is tackled. Retallick with another go and he's over!
Lifeline for the Chiefs before halftime. McKenzie to kick now, Snyman finally leaves the field for a concussion test.
Brilliant kick from McKenzie under pressure! Chiefs trail by seven.
34 mins: Chiefs 7 Bulls 21
Lienert-Brown claims the ball and the Chiefs have a counter! Advantage Chiefs as Harris makes a break, he throws a pass back inside that Fa'auli can't get a hold of before the ref brings play back.
Snyman is down for the Bulls, taking a shocking headknock courtesy of Brown, but he's staying on the field for now.
33 mins: Chiefs 7 Bulls 21
The Bulls knock the ball on and McKenzie looks to counter! Sam Cane takes the ball into a tackle and the Chiefs recycle quickly. Retallick goes but is bought down, the ball makes its way back to Falcon who kicks. The Bulls have the ball again now and attack straight back.
Gelant steps through a tackle, and the Bulls are in a great position! Sam Cane somehow turns the ball over, before McKenzie clears. Chiefs get out of jail. Messam comes back too.
30 mins: Chiefs 7 Bulls 21
Liam Messam leaves the field, he's been smashed in the face in a tackle, hopefully he's alright.
27 mins: Chiefs 7 Bulls 21
The Chiefs with some rare possession, working the ball upfield. Tiaan Falcon kicks the ball over the top, but loses out to Pollard, who quickly loses it. The Chiefs lose the ball over the touchline for another Bulls lineout.
23 mins: Chiefs 7 Bulls 21
TRY! The Bulls making good use of possession, getting through phases going upfield. Kriel breaks through and puts Rossouw away for his second try of the match!
Pollard with a kick from straight in front, and he has no trouble!
20 mins: Chiefs 7 Bulls 14
A high tackle from Sam Cane leads to another penalty, and another attacking lineout. The Bulls throw and the Chiefs do brilliantly to turn the ball over, Boshier the hero.
18 mins: Chiefs 7 Bulls 14
The Chiefs could be in trouble here, they've given away six straight penalties. The referee stops play and calls Sam Cane over, they get away with it for now. Elsewhere, Anton Lienert-Brown returned to the field after passing a concussion test.
16 mins: Chiefs 7 Bulls 14
TRY! Visagie drives at the line as the Bulls go short. They look to spread the ball to the backs and Pollard has a charge, they get the ball out to Rossouw out on the left and he dives in the corner! Has he gone in?
McKenzie looks to have forced him over the line, but has he got his left arm down in time? Original decision is a try, and it stands! Great finish from the winger.
Pollard with another kick, this time from out wide, and he's nailed it!
15 mins: Chiefs 7 Bulls 7
A late tackle from Liam Messam means the Bulls have yet another attacking lineout in Chiefs territory. Visagie throws, de Jager claims and the Bulls drive! The Chiefs collapse the maul to give away a penalty. Surely another lineout for the Bulls?
9 mins: Chiefs 7 Bulls 7
The Bulls all over the Chiefs early on here, winning a penalty from a driving maul after the Chiefs collapse. Another attacking lineout for the Bulls. Visagie throws but the Chiefs steal it and Retallick now with a run up field.
Harris has a go and the referee has the arm out, Chiefs advantage! Falcon kicks through and Ismaiel makes a mess of it! Fa'auli is there to pounce on the loose ball just in front of the tryline and he goes over unchallenged! The Chiefs hit back in style!
McKenzie with his first kick of the evening, and he's got it! Scores level in Hamilton.
4 mins: Chiefs 0 Bulls 7
TRY! The Bulls strike first! Gelant the hero for the visitors after a brilliant set play from the Bulls. Ismaiel the hero to set the try up, taking both McKenzie and Fa'auli out of the equation.
Pollard has no problem with the conversion, Bulls ahead by seven.
3 mins: Chiefs 0 Bulls 0
Bulls lineout and they look to move the ball. The Bulls put a kick through but McKenzie looks to counter from fullback. He gets the ball back but puts a kick over the top and it goes out on the full, meaning an attacking lineout for the Bulls!
KICK OFF: Chiefs 0 Bulls 0
We're away! Pollard boots the ball high into the sky, Fa'auli claims it.
7:34pm
Both sides out on the park now, kick off moments away. Handre Pollard to get us underway!
7:25pm
The Chiefs make their way back into the sheds after their warm up, the Bulls are still out on the park.
7:07pm
Good evening, what a match we're in for tonight! Can the Chiefs keep their winning momentum? Or will a Bulls side that's already defeated the Hurricanes this season prove too strong? We'll find out soon enough - kick off less than half an hour away.
PRE MATCH
After a week off following their win over the Blues at Eden Park, the Chiefs return to action against the Bulls for their first match at home this year.
The home side will be looking to grind out another tough win, with a whopping 14 players on the injured list, with the likes of Dominic Bird, Charlie Ngatai, Kane Hames and Shaun Stevenson just some of the stars missing in tonight's clash.
Youngster Tiaan Falcon makes his first start in Super Rugby in the number 10 jersey, a familiar face to those who witnessed the Baby Blacks' winning World Cup campaign last year.
Damian McKenzie moves back to fullback, with the All Blacks livewire seeming to be the last man standing in the position.
For the Bulls, the likes of Jesse Kriel, Handre Pollard and Lood de Jager all start tonight's clash, with Kiwi coach John Mitchell hoping to get one over his former side.
TEAMS:
Chiefs: 15. Damian McKenzie, 14. Sean Wainui, 13. Anton Lienert-Brown, 12. Johnny Fa'auli, 11. Solomon Alaimalo, 10. Tiaan Falcon, 9. Brad Weber, 8. Liam Messam, 7. Sam Cane (c), 6. Lachlan Boshier, 5. Mitchell Brown, 4. Brodie Retallick, 3. Angus Ta'avao, 2. Nathan Harris, 1. Aidan Ross
Substitutes : 16. Liam Polwart, 17. Karl Tu'inukuafe, 18. Jeff Thwaites, 19. Michael Allardice, 20. Luke Jacobson, 21. Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, 22. Marty McKenzie, 23. Declan O'Donnell
Bulls: 15. Warrick Gelant, 14. Travis Ismaiel, 13. Jesse Kriel, 12. Burger Odendaal (c), 11. Divan Rossouw, 10. Handre Pollard, 9. Andre Warner, 8. Hanro Liebenberg, 7. Thembelani Bholi, 6. Roelof Smit, 5. Lood de Jager, 4. RG Snyman, 3. Trevor Nyakane, 2. Jaco Visagie, 1. Pierre Schoeman.
Substitutes: 16 Adriaan Strauss, 17 Lizo Gqoboka, 18 Conraad van Vuuren, 19 Jason Jenkins/Tim Agaba, 20 Marco van Staden, 21 Embrose Papier, 22 Manie Libbok, 23 Johnny Kotze
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