In front of 22,000 spectators in Rotorua this evening the Chiefs demolished the Highlanders to establish themselves as real play-off contenders.

In a wonderful display of controlled football, they scored some scintillating tries as their backs ran from deep angles and their loose forwards wreaked havoc in the Highlanders' defence.

John Mitchell's pre-season work with the Chiefs is really beginning to pay dividends. With two previous home wins under their belts , the confidence was high going into this match. Their fitness levels allowed the forwards to play a driving game which put the Highlanders under pressure and as the opposition eight were sucked into rucks and mauls the Chiefs then had the wit to release the ball wide. This was simple but effectively intelligent play. They were also lethal on the counter, hitting the Highlanders on the break and showing the ability to score from anywhere on the field.

Skipper Deon Muir was again in magnificent form , leading by example , rampaging in attack, damaging in defence. On current form he is the leading no8 in New Zealand. He was well supported by Koula Tukino and Marty Holah who were everywhere, either in support of the ball carrier or hounding the opposition. Cooksley and Willis were again a commanding second row pair and the front row gave their illustrious opponents as good as they got. Danny Lee was a terrier at scrum half, his hat trick of tries rich reward for his clever support and distribution. Glen Jackson controlled play well from fly half, kicked very well and scored a brilliant individual try. Lowen and Ranby were once more solid and menacing in midfield and Roger Randle on the right wing was a constant menace to the Highlanders' defence. With home games against the Cats and Sharks to come, these are exciting times for the Chiefs. On 14 points, they are well-placed to challenge for a top four placing.

The Highlanders, by contrast, were pedestrian, their game plan not as effective as forwards cluttered the midfield and backs ran across field. They went into the game expecting urgent opponents, but hardly expecting the blitz that hit them in the first half.

However,the Highlanders' forwards made an impressive start, setting up a series of well coordinated drives which culminated in a penalty chance for Tony Brown. He gave a much-needed boost to his confidence by slotting over the kick . The Chiefs came crashing back , their forwards showing the same organization and sense of purpose to set up the prospect of an enthralling forward battle.

Crichton scored the first try on the right, Tukino bursting on to a pass from Lee , throwing the ball wide and Crichton proving strong enough to power over. With the pace frenetic both sides tried to establish field position , but the kicking was erratic and the running in the loose from Vahafolau and Muir powerful. The Chiefs again infringed on the floor but Brown hit the post with his kick. The mess the home side made of the clearance quickly gave Brown another chance to reduce the lead. Incredibly , he hit the post again ! He soon made amends, taking the ball up to the Chiefs' line, the ball was moved right from the ruck and Jeff Wilson glided outside Reihana's tackle. Brown's conversion missed .

A surging run by Chiefs' skipper Deon Muir, up the right hand touchline from a lineout, complemented by a clever pass behind Oliver's back to the supporting Danny Lee, allowed the scrum half to hold off Tanivula's tackle as he went in at the right hand corner flag. Jackson's conversion was magnificent.

Clever interplay between the Chiefs'forwards and backs had the Highlanders under pressure on their own line. Further dynamic running from a line out by Coleman took the ball to the line and secured the put- in at a 5 metres scrum. Muir broke from the back, set up the ruck and Lee scurried over for his second try.

Already well behind , the Highlanders set up an attack from Laney's kick, the Chiefs infringed and Brown kicked his second penalty. The Chiefs raced back on to the offensive, the Highlanders went off side and Jackson kicked a superb penalty from wide on the right.

After 32 minutes Deon Muir secured the bonus point with a magnificent try. Lee tapped a penalty in his own 22, fed Tukino who released Randle. He flew down the right , engaged the defence and fed the supporting Lee who put Muir clear. He cruised in beneath the posts.Jackson's conversion took the Chiefs beyond 30.

Desperate for a try before half time, the Highlanders set up a promising attack but rushed the play when within metres of the Chiefs' line.They already gave the impression of playing catch-up football. But they did catch up, marginally, when Brown kicked his fourth penalty after Tukino went offside at a scrum. Half time came with the Chiefs leading 31-14 after playing some superb football.

Turnovers dominated the opening of the second half before another magnificent counter-attacking run from Roger Randle inspired a passage of interpassing which threatened the fifth try. The Highlanders cleared after their defence successfully re-grouped.

A period of stalemate was broken by Lowen's dash through the Highlanders' lines, he released Ranby who was dragged down just before his support could get to him.A long kick out of defence by Jeff Wison and a poor reply from Randle, set the Highlanders on attack, but Randle made amends and intercepted as the Highlanders threatened, surged upfield , was supported by Lee, then Coleman and from the ruck Jackson raced on to the pass to streak through the defence for the Chefs' fifth try.

As the Highlanders pressed to find a way through the Chiefs' defence, their attacks became very lateral, allowing the Chiefs' midfield to line up their men. As the Highlanders' forwards took up the challenge they found the Chiefs' fringe defence just as staunch. From a tapped penalty Muir fed Tukino, he rampaged up the left and from the ruck the ball went right. McLeod put Lowen into a gap with a wonderful pass, he released Randle who raced in beneath the posts for the sixth try.

Jeff Wilson picked up his second try after a forward drive down the left was held up, the ball went right and Leaupepe's powerful run created the overlap for the winger. The Chiefs' 50 points were reached with Lee's hat trick try. Tukino again made the initial yards, Randle broke up field, kicked and regained , created the ruck and the scrumhalf squirmed over.

A length of the field move should have resulted in the Chiefs' eighth try, Holah and Tukino making huge inroads before the blindsider threw a forward pass. The game ended with both sides attacking hard , but with the Chiefs having used the ball more constructively to put the Highlanders under relentless pressure.

Teams

Chiefs Loki Crichton, Roger Randle, Keith Lowen, Mark Ranby, Bruce Reihana, Glen Jackson, Danny Lee, Deon Muir (captain), Marty Holah, Koula Tukino, Mark Cooksley, Royce Willis, Tim Knight, Guy Coleman, Deacon Manu. Substitutes : Scott McLeod, David Hill, Rhys Duggan, Duncan Blaikie, Chresten Davis, Tama Tuirirangi, Anton Edwards.

Highlanders Brendan Laney, Jeff Wilson, Romi Ropati, Pita Alatini, Iliesa Tanivula, Tony Brown, Billy Fulton, Samiu Vahafolau, Finau Maka, Kelvin Middleton, John Blaikie, Simon Maling, Kees Meeuws, Anton Oliver (captain), Carl Hoeft. Substitutes : George Leaupepe, Mark Urwin, David Gibson, Josh Blackie, Vula Maimuri, Carl Hayman, Tom Willis.

Scorers

Chiefs:50Tries: Lee (3), Crichton, Muir, Randle, Jackson Conversions: Jackson ( 6).Penalty : Jackson.

Highlanders:19Tries: Wilson (2) Penalties:Brown (3).