SYDNEY :Josh Beehre scored a converted try after the hooter as the Auckland Blues kept alive their Super Rugby Pacific title defence with a 20-19 victory over the Waikato Chiefs in Hamilton on Saturday to scrape into the playoff semi-finals.
The Chiefs will join the Blues and the Canterbury Crusaders in the last four under the "lucky losers" rule, with the last contender to be decided when the ACT Brumbies and Wellington Hurricanes meet in Canberra later on Saturday.
A try from centre Daniel Rona and 14 points from the boot of Damian McKenzie looked to have earned the Chiefs the win but the Blues pounded away at the line in a frantic finish before lock Beehre reached over to score and Beauden Barrett converted.
"There's been a whole lot of ups and downs through our season, and... although there's another week for us, we've got to enjoy that kind of moment," said Blues skipper Patrick Tuipulotu.
"I'm glad we were able to sort of grind it out in that last 10 minutes."
The match at Waikato Stadium was dominated by a titanic forward battle complemented by a dazzling duel between All Blacks playmakers McKenzie and Barrett.
Three penalties from McKenzie to one from Barrett gave the Chiefs a 9-3 lead at halftime after both sides bombed what looked like certain tries.
Chiefs centre Daniel Rona burst down the left wing in the 27th minute and while his kick infield looked to have given Cortez Ratima a try on a plate, the scrumhalf knocked on with the line at his mercy.
McKenzie gave the Chiefs a 6-3 lead with his second penalty four minutes later and hit the turf soon afterwards after being tripped by Ricky Riccitelli while chasing a Shaun Stevenson chip through.
That earned the hooker 10 minutes in the sin bin and McKenzie added
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