Brumbies lead chasing pack as unbeaten Chiefs ease clear

SYDNEY : ACT Brumbies just held off the Melbourne Rebels 33-26 in the final Super Rugby Pacific match of the weekend on Sunday to stay at the front of the chasing pack behind the unbeaten Waikato Chiefs after 11 rounds of the championship.

The Chiefs made it 10 wins out of 10 for the season when they opened the round with a bonus point 52-28 victory over Otago Highlanders in Dunedin on Friday and finished the weekend with a nine-point advantage over the Brumbies.

The Canberra-based outfit needed to be at their best in Melbourne to see off a vastly improved Rebels team, who were battering at their line in the final few minutes looking for a converted try to level up the scores.

Two tries in the first half from flyhalf Noah Lolesio, a couple after the break from their trademark rolling maul and a fifth from Rob Valetini gave the Brumbies just enough of a cushion to secure their eight win of the season.

The Brumbies remained two points clear of the third-placed Auckland Blues and three ahead of the reigning champion Canterbury Crusaders.

The Crusaders welcomed Will Jordan back after a long spell on the sidelines with an ear problem and the fullback looked in fine touch in the 48-13 pummelling of the Western Force in Christchurch on Saturday.

The Wellington Hurricanes had led the group of New Zealand teams just behind the Brumbies at the start of the weekend but were stunned 27-24 by the Fijian Drua in sweltering Suva earlier on Saturday.

Former All Blacks winger Julian Savea scored two tries for the Hurricanes to match Israel Folau's career competition record of 60 but the visitors wilted under the pressure brought to bear by the Fijians.

The Auckland Blues almost fell victim to the other expansion team brought into the