Chiefs fight hard to down Rebels

MELBOURNE fell short of a win but pushed the Chiefs and their case to remain in next year’s Super Rugby competition with a gutsy 27-14 loss at AAMI Park last night.

With rumours continuing to swirl that the Rebels might be cut from Super Rugby in 2018, they delivered their best showing of the season against the unbeaten Chiefs – rated among the title favourites.

After leaking 127 points in their opening two games, the winless Rebels regrouped after the bye and put their bodies on the line to push the visitors to the wire.

They scrapped for every ball, with their flankers Jordy Reid and Colby Fainga’a getting the better of the Chiefs at the breakdown.

However, Chiefs flanker Sam Cane collected the points when it counted, scoring in the 77th minute to seal the hardfought win, before Shaun Stevenson added a bonus-point try before the final whistle.

The Rebels trailed 7-3 at half-time after three missed penalties by Reece Hodge but hit the front three minutes into the second half through winger Marika Koroibete.

The former Melbourne NRL flyer ran on to a cutout pass from five-eighth Jackson Garden-Bachop and dived across in the corner for his first Super Rugby try.

IN last night’s other game, the Crusaders pulled a win from the fire for the third successive match, downing the Blues 33-24 in Christchurch to maintain their unbeaten start to the season. The Crusaders were down 21-5 at the break.