McKenzie boots Chiefs into Super semi-finals

MELBOURNE : The Waikato Chiefs fended off a brave challenge from the Queensland Reds to reach the semi-finals of Super Rugby Pacific with a bruising 29-20 win in Hamilton on Saturday.

A late try to Pita Gus Sowakula and the unerring boot of Damien McKenzie proved the difference for the Chiefs in a frenetic atmosphere at Waikato Stadium.

McKenzie slotted five penalties and two conversions in a flawless night off the tee, nudging the Chiefs in front in the last 10 minutes after the Reds threatened to pull off a massive upset through a brace of tries to winger Suliasi Vunivalu.

"We were made to work extremely hard," said Chiefs captain Sam Cane.

"We came up against a really tough Reds side. To be fair, that's what we expected.

"It was an arm-wrestle, we had to grind it out."

Out of contract, Brad Thorn confirmed he had overseen his last match in charge as Reds coach after six years at Queensland.

"It's time for a break," said the dual code international.

The Chiefs' hulking, bearded number eight Sowakula sealed the win with a try in the 75th minute as he plucked the ball out of a ruck and planted it next to the left post.

The Chiefs had only one other try-scorer, with livewire winger Emoni Narawa crossing at the left corner seconds after the half-time siren to put the hosts 16-10 up at the break.

The only team to beat the Chiefs in the regular season, the Reds held them in check for much of the night with well-organised defence and tactical kicking.

Vunivalu put his hand up for Wallabies selection with a terrific individual match, scoring the opening try in the ninth minute and grabbing his second on the hour-mark with a pick-and-go on the try-line.

McKenzie booted the Chiefs in front with three early penalties but Reds number eight