Francis Saili on the crash run and the Blues get quick ball. They also have a penalty on the 22m about 15m wide of the lefthand upright. Sam Cane penalised for dropping out of the lineout early.
West converts and the Blues have the early lead.
The Blues knock on at the restart and the Chiefs have the ball inside the Blues' half but then they knock it on. Great conditions so can't blame a wet ball. Maybe early season nerves.
The Blues have a scrum just outside their own 22m but Cowan kicks a bouncing ball into touch on the full. Messy stuff by the Blues. Chiefs lineout on 22m.
West attempts and intercept and knocks on. Chiefs have a scrum about 35m out.
A few restarts for the scrum. The first one of the match was fine - gone downhill since then. Bad sign.
Weber finally gets the ball and is tackled quickly by Cowan. Chiefs failing to go forward.
Some great quick passing out wide and the Chiefs score down the blindside through James Lowe.
Slick hands from SBW to Tom Marshall who then quickly passed to Lowe. Lowe still had work to do but found the tryline with ease.
Damian McKenzie converts from the sideline. Chiefs leads 7-3.
The Blues work the ball through the hands but it's one pair of hands too many as Tevita Li is pushed into touch. Chiefs win their own lineout ball and clear up field. SBW catches the ball on the full - feeds Bryce Heem who scores.
No Blues players tried to contest the bomb. All too easy for Sonny Bill who had Heem on his righthand shoulder who ran in the 40m for the try. McKenzie converts and the Chiefs lead 14-3.
Lolagi Visinia puts up a high bomb but McKenzie catches it with ease despite the pressure. But the Blues earn a penalty and tap and go...
Li goes close to scoring. A couple of metres short. Blues looking to hit back.
But West kicks way too deep as he attempts an angle kick. Chiefs kick deep from the 22m drop out and the Chiefs return the favour through West
.
Woodcock returns to the field following a bloodbin. He now has five new stitches.
The Chiefs have a penalty with Triggs pinged at ruck time. 40 metres out. McKenzie going for goal. Quite wide out.
McKenzie strikes it perfectly. Straight through the middle and the Chiefs lead 17-3 after 20 minutes.
West with the ball in hand eyes a gap but then the ball falls out of hand. Chiefs now move over halfway.
Lowe down the touchline again but this time he steps out. Blues lineout on their own 45m.
McKenzie breaks the line and hands off to SBW. Sonny Bill finds more space and has Tom Marshall outside him but the handoff doesn't find him as the Blues defence converges. The Chiefs get the ball back but play ends when they are penalised for not rolling away. Blues get a chance to clear out of their own 22m
James Lowe and Bryce Heem are the tryscorers so far Ray.
West clears up field for the Blues and not much chasing from the home side. Marshall returns the ball and is hit hard by Kaino. Woodcock is penalised and McKenzie looks to add another three points from halfway.
This time he's off the mark as it goes left and low. Blues now with possession and move into Chiefs' territory.
Hamish Northcott with a half break but is quickly brought down. Hamish Northcott is penalised for being offside at rucktime. West eyes up the penalty attempt from right in front. 37 metres out.
West converts his second penalty of the night and makes it 17-6.
10 minutes left in the half. The Chiefs looking to keep the ball in the Blues side of the half with a deep kick. West tries to return the favour but doesn't get as much distance on it. Chiefs lineout in Blues half.
Blues now have the ball deep inside their own half as the Chiefs lose the ball. But the Blues are penalised for holding onto the ball. Lolagi Visinia gives it away.
McKenzie having another long distance attempt for the penalty.
He converts it. Just sneaks over the crossbar. Great kicking by McKenzie.
