AUCKLAND, New Zealand (AP) Johnny Fa’auli finished a counter-attacking move in the 68th minute which earned the Hamilton-based Chiefs a 16-16 draw with the Auckland-based Blues in Super Rugby on Friday.
The Chiefs trailed 13-8 at halftime and were down 16-8 when the Blues’ England-born flyhalf Piers Francis kicked his third penalty early in the second half.
After Aaron Cruden narrowed the gap to five points with a 52nd-minute penalty, Fa’auli pounced on Damian McKenzie’s superb cross-field kick to score the try which leveled the scores with 12 minutes to play.
Francis had a chance to earn a win for the Blues in the 71st minute but his penalty from close range drifted outside the right-hand upright.