Narawa scores in Chiefs' narrow win

Fiji-born Bay of Plenty speedster Emoni Narawa scored a try for the Chiefs in their narrow 33-30 win over the Melbourne Rebels in Round 13 of Super Rugby Pacific yesterday.

 

The Rebels started off late after Reece Hodge missed a penalty but later he started his fancy footwork putting up 3 points lead with a penalty just before Chiefs responded with back to back tries from Luke Jacobson and Chase Tiatiabut Josh Ioane converted once for a 12-3 lead.

 

In the 37th minute, Rebels were reduced to 14 men after Pone Fa’amausili was awarded a yellow card for dangerous play yet, the Chiefs could not take advantage and Rebels got in the game with a try from Carter Gordon and Hodge converted to cut down the margin.

 

The Chiefs led 12-10 at halftime.

 

Tables turned in the opening few minutes of the second stanza with Andrew Kellaway's 47th minute try and Hodge converted to take a slender lead but their happiness was cut short when Samisoni Taukei’aho ran for the Chiefs third try while Ioane converted.

 

Chiefs continued with their battle when the dancing feet of centre Emoni Narawa danced through some traffic to open up a nine point lead and Ioane converted.

 

The Rebels made a comeback when Chiefs were reduced to 14 men as Jacobson was flashed a yellow card for foul play which Rebels took advantage and scored twice through Hodge who also converted both and slotted a penalty.

 

Coming off the replacement bench, Ollie Norris showed his heroic class of rugby when he barged through the Rebels defence and reached the try line and Ioane’s conversion sealed the win.

 

By Romeka Romena