Chiefs edge Crusaders in thriller to extend winning streak

SYDNEY : Waikato Chiefs made it two wins out of two against the Canterbury Crusaders this year with a 34-24 victory in a Hamilton thriller on Saturday that extended their winning streak to nine games from the start of the Super Rugby Pacific season.

Flyhalf Damian McKenzie was again outstanding for the competition leaders, keeping the scoreboard ticking over with five penalties and setting up a late try for Shaun Stevenson with a trademark burst of speed through the midfield.

The reigning champion Crusaders scored tries through prop Tamaiti Williams, a penalty try and fullback Fergus Burke as well as having a couple of scores rubbed out by marginal calls.

They held a 24-22 lead nine minutes from time after a Richie Mo'unga penalty but the Chiefs would not be denied in front of a sellout crowd of 23,500 at their Waikato Stadium home.

After Stevenson had put them back in front, Brodie Retallick, who scored their opening try just after the break, and his fellow forwards muscled up to ensure the victory with hooker Tyrone Thompson crossing again in the dying seconds.

"It honestly means so much to us to have a crowd like this. It's been a long time since (Waikato) stadium has been this packed," said Chiefs co-captain Sam Cane.

"We know we've still got plenty of the comp left to go, so we'll look at ways to making sure we can keep getting better."

The victory sent the Chiefs eight points clear of the ACT Brumbies at the top of the standings after two thirds of the regular season.

In Friday's big clash, the Wellington Hurricanes edged the Brumbies 32-27 in the New Zealand capital to move within a point of their rivals in third place.

Two sensational efforts from Brumbies lock Nick Frost were the pick of the four tries scored by