The Chiefs secured a hard-fought 15–19 comeback victory over the Blues at Eden Park, with All Black Cortez Ratima scoring a decisive late try to seal the result in a match dominated by defensive pressure.
Both sides traded tries through Tupou Vaa’i and Zarn Sullivan in a tense first half before Dalton Papali’i and Samisoni Taukei’aho crossed in the second spell to keep scores tight.
Despite periods under pressure, including a yellow card to Kaylum Boshier, the Chiefs stayed composed and capitalised late when Ratima backed up a break from Samipeni Finau to sprint clear with four minutes remaining, while a late yellow card to Sam Nock and a missed lineout ended the Blues’ hopes of a response.
