Chiefs down Crusaders to keep rugby semi hopes alive

CHRISTCHURCH (AFP) — The Waikato Chiefs kept their Super 14 semi-final hopes alive by inflicting the Canterbury Crusaders' first home loss in over three years in a bruising 30-19 victory here Friday.

The Crusaders stumbled to their second consecutive loss, jeopardising their hopes for a home semi-final in the final round of the competition.

But a last-minute try by skipper Richie McCaw gave them a bonus point which left them at the top of the table with 42 points with most of the round still to be played.

After their poor start to the season, the Chiefs have come back with a roar in the second half, charging into third place on the table and giving them a chance of sneaking through into the final four.

"History wasn't in our favour and it was going to take something special tonight and everyone of those boys who ...