Chiefs bounce back to top Super Rugby, Waratahs suffer first loss

SYDNEY : The Waikato Chiefs beat the Auckland Blues for the second time this season to remain top of the Super Rugby Pacific standings after five rounds as the New South Wales Waratahs lost the only unbeaten record in the competition. 

Flyhalf Damian McKenzie scored a try and kicked a crucial late penalty to help the Chiefs rebound from last week's shock loss to Fijian Drua with a tight 32-31 victory over the reigning champions in Hamilton on Saturday.

McKenzie's penalty put last year's losing finalists six points ahead in the 71st minute and although centre Rieko Ioane crossed for the Blues five minutes from time, debutant Xavi Taele hit the upright with the conversion attempt.

The win put the Chiefs four points clear of the Canterbury Crusaders, ACT Brumbies and Queensland Reds at the top of the standings with the Waratahs a further point back.      

A losing bonus point at least took the Blues off the bottom of the standings, the position the Waratahs held at the end of last season.

Three wins from the start of the season marked quite a turnaround for the Sydney-based team but dreams of a title challenge hit a major road bump in Brisbane on Saturday in a humbling 35-15 loss to the Reds at Lang Park. 

Waratahs winger Triston Reilly drew first blood in the second minute but the visitors never really recovered from a yellow card shown to fullback Andrew Kellaway in the 23rd minute and the Reds pack took over.  

Fullback Heremaia Murray scored the first Reds try before forwards Harry Wilson, Richie Asiata, Fraser McReight and Angus Blyth all crossed to give Queensland the honours in the latest edition of a rivalry that dates back to 1882.

"We got there in the end after a tough 20 minutes to open and then we just relied on our big