14th February 2010 08:20AM

The Chiefs clinched victory over the Sharks in the final seconds of the match at Durban this morning in the first round of the Rebel Sport Super 14.

The final three minutes of the match at Absa Stadium was action-packed and full of tension. Chiefs second five-eighth Jackson Willison scored a try in the 77th minute to push the Chiefs to within one point of the Sharks with the score then 14-15.  However, Chiefs first five-eighth Stephen Donald slotted the conversion to see the Chiefs lead 16-15.

That lead was very short-lived with the Sharks being awarded a penalty due to Richard Kahui obstructing a Sharks player.  Sharks halfback Rory Kockett slotted the penalty to see the home team leading 18-16.   

But the drama continued. In the final minute, with only a few seconds left on the clock, the Sharks, who had possession, conceded a penalty.  Donald again stepped up to the plate and successfully kicked the winning penalty to see the Chiefs win 19-18.

In wet, stormy and humid conditions most of the match hinged on the kicking abilities of both Donald and Kockett.  At the end of the first half the two teams were tied at 6 all.  The Sharks started to increase their lead in the second half with three successful penalties in the first 25 minutes.  At 6-15 the Chiefs finally got a chance to come back into the game with a penalty kick by Donald. 

It was then that the only try of the match, scored by Willison, set the Chiefs on fire in the final minutes of the game.

Chiefs captain Liam Messam described the match as "dog eat dog out there." 

A number of players made their Chiefs debut, including young back Tim Nanai-Williams starting on the wing.  He was a late replacement for Dwayne Sweeney who was pulled from the line-up before the game after suffering from a fever in the 24 hours leading up to the match.

Other players to earn their first Chiefs caps, all off the bench, were lock Culum Retallick, prop Ben Afeaki, halfback Junior Poluleuligaga and wing Jason Hona.

The other key milestone in the match went to Chiefs openside Tanerau Latimer who played in his 100th first class game.

The Chiefs, with four points now on the table, will now prepare for their second match of the competition against the Lions in Johannesburg on Saturday 20 February at 7.00am (NZ time).  

FIRST HALF:

Penalites: Donald (2)

HALF-TIME SCORE: 6-6

SECOND HALF:

Try: Willison

Conversion: Donald

Penalty: Donald

FULL-TIME SCORE: 19-18 (Chiefs)

The Chiefs team that played the Sharks 

1. Sona Taumalolo
2. Aled de Malmanche
3. Nathan White
4. Craig Clarke
5. Kevin O'Neill
6. Liam Messam (captain)
7. Tanerau Latimer
8. Colin Bourke
9. Brendon Leonard
10. Stephen Donald
11. Sitiveni Sivivatu
12. Jackson Willison
13. Richard Kahui
14. Tim Nanai-Williams
15. Mike Delany

Reserves:

16. Hika Elliot (on for de Malmanche)

17. Ben Afeaki (on for White)

18. James McGougan

19. Culum Retallick (on for O'Neill)

20. Jarrad Hoeata

21. Junior Poluleuligaga (on for Leonard)

22. Jason Hona (on for Nanai-Williams)