A brave Highlanders side fought to the final minute but saw any chance of making the Super 15 play-offs virtually evaporate as they were defeated by the Chiefs, 27-21.
In an entertaining encounter both sides looked to play expansively, but it was the Chiefs who had more firepower, with Sonny Bill Williams being particularly prevalent in the first half.
After scoring early, the visiting Hamilton-based side scored on halftime as well, a penalty from the boot of Aaron Cruden sending them to the shed with an 18-9 lead.
The Chiefs relied on Cruden’s boot to keep them in the lead in the second spell, and despite the Highlanders rallying late in the piece it was the competition leaders who took the spoils, running out 27-21 victors.
