Rugby-Late try helps Chiefs edge closer to Super 14 semis

CAPE TOWN, May 2 (Reuters) - New Zealand's Waikato Chiefs scored a late fourth try to snatch a bonus point and move a step closer to the Super 14 semi-finals with a 28-14 win over South Africa's Stormers at Newlands on Saturday.

The Chiefs moved to second in the standings with two rounds to play. The Stormers, by contrast, slumped to their eighth loss of the season and also failed to do fellow South African sides the Bulls and Sharks a favour by beating the Chiefs.

The Wellington Hurricanes top the standings with 39 points, two clear of the Chiefs ahead of next week's meeting between the two New Zealand sides in Hamilton.

Although the Stormers dominated the opening exchanges, scoring the first try of the match through flyhalf Willem de Waal in the 16th minute, they spent the rest of the half on defence.

The Chiefs absorbed the early pressure and then started to command almost every aspect of the game, scoring twice before the break.

Flanker Liam Messam rounded off a sustained Chiefs attack with their first try of the match in the 24th minute.

The New Zealanders' second came on the stroke of halftime through scrumhalf Toby Morland.

Centre Richard Kahui burst away and made 50 metres before offloading to the supporting Morland for an easy canter under the crossbar.

The pair combined for the Chiefs' third try in the 65th minute when Kahui again ran an excellent straight line before feeding Morland for his second.

Kahui then scored the bonus-point-scoring fourth try three minutes from the end. (Reporting by Craig Ray; Editing by Sonia Oxley; To comment on this story: sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)