The New South Wales Waratahs moved into second in the Super 14 with a 25-10 win over the Durban-based Sharks in Sydney.

The Waratahs leapfrogged the Sharks with the bonus point win and now head for a tour of South Africa full of confidence.

The Sharks, however, play competition leaders the Canterbury Crusaders in Christchurch next weekend and could find themselves missing the finals after being unbeaten through the first eight rounds of the competition.

They were comprehensively defeated by the Waratahs, who scored all four of their tries in the second half, including two to bulldozing number eight Wycliff Palu.

The Sharks' cause was not helped when they lost captain Johann Muller in the lead-up to the match and they suffered a further setback 10 minutes into the game when their French fly-half Frederick Michalak was forced from the field with a knee injury.

NSW winger Lote Tuqiri posted the only points of the first half with a long-range penalty from his first kick at goal in Super 14 rugby.

The Waratahs posted the first try 10 minutes into the second half when Sam Norton-Knight crossed out wide after some sustained pressure from the forwards.

The Sharks hit back with centre Francois Steyn kicking a massive penalty from 55 metres out, but the Waratahs struck immediately when Palu charged over beside the posts after being put clear by hooker Adam Freier.

Centre Tom Carter then chased a kick ahead and regathered to score in the corner before NSW put the game beyond doubt when Palu slid over out wide to give the Waratahs a bonus point.

The Sharks regained some pride with a consolation try to winger Odwa Ndungane, but they never really threatened the Waratahs.

Waikato's Sione Lauaki scored a 50-metres intercept try to break the hearts of Queensland Reds and give the Chiefs a 32-20 win in Hamilton.

The Reds, 24-3 down at half-time, were in touch at 27-20 before the massive Lauaki latched onto a Quade Cooper pass and raced away to score, shrugging off tackles from Clinton Schifcofske and James Horwill.

Waikato scored four tries to grab a bonus point win in a highly entertaining match against a Queensland side playing expansive and high-risk rugby.

Chiefs winger Lelia Masaga scored two tries for the home side while Morgan Turinui grabbed a double for the Reds.

The Chiefs scored after five minutes when fly-half Stephen Donald kicked ahead and regathered to score under the posts.

The Reds wasted a great chance to reply with a try of their own and were made to pay when Masaga finished off a break with a converted try to put the Chiefs 14-0 up.

The Reds got on the board with a Berrick Barnes drop goal 15 minutes into the match, but Donald restored the 14-point lead with a 30th minute penalty.

Queensland suffered a huge blow when Schifcofske was sin-binned for a professional foul, though Chiefs winger Sitiveni Sivivatu was fortunate to escape a similar fate earlier.

Things got worse for the Reds when the television match official awarded a try to Masaga despite the Chiefs winger appearing to put a hand into touch in the process of scoring.

Donald converted from the sideline to send the home side to the break well in control at 24-3.

The Reds began their comeback with two tries from Turinui and one to replacement winger Digby Iaone.

With both sides throwing the ball around, Lauaki took the crucial intercept and put the game beyond Queensland's reach.

The Wellington Hurricanes ran in six tries to beat South Africa's Cheetahs 38-10 in Kimberley.

Victory kept the New Zealanders' hopes of a semi-final alive as they moved only one point behind the teams in third and fourth with three rounds remaining.

The Hurricanes return to New Zealand to face the bottom of the table Lions from South Africa in Wellington next week.

The Cheetahs enjoyed more possession but, in keeping with their season, they made too many basic errors to capitalise as they slumped to their ninth loss in 10 outings.

The home team gifted the Hurricanes two first-half tries after making most of the running.

After lock Jason Eaton had scored by bursting through a gap at a ruck in the 19th minute, the Cheetahs fell further behind when Hurricanes number eight Rodney So'oialo intercepted a pass by Juan Smith two minutes later.

Cheetahs wing Jongi Nokwe scored three minutes later to give the home side hope but it was short lived.

In the 35th minute Cheetahs' tighthead prop CJ van der Linde inexplicably tried to chip the ball ahead in midfield. His errant kick was snapped up by lock Jeremy Thrush who raced 25 metres before offloading to centre Ma'a Nonu to score.

The Cheetahs couldn't find a way through resolute Hurricanes defence in the second half and as they became more desperate the mistakes piled up.

Wing Zac Guildford scored in the 53rd minute to ensure a bonus point for the Hurricanes and fullback Corey Jane and flank Scott Waldrom added further tries before the final whistle.

The Stormers picked up two second-half tries to keep their hopes of reaching the semi-finals alive with a 26-16 victory over the Otago Highlanders.

Hooker Tiaan Liebenberg and his replacement Schalk Brits scored in the space of 10 minutes to break open a game that was deadlocked 9-9 at half-time.

A sluggish first half, littered with scrum restarts, featured three penalties by Stormers fly-half Tony Brown and a 25-metre drop goal and two penalties by Otago pivot Mike Delany.

The Stormers took the lead with a penalty from replacement fly-half Peter Grant at the start of the second half.

The South Africans then notched the first touchdown of the match after 50 minutes when Liebenberg evaded a tackle from Otago winger Fetu'u Vainikolo to dive over in the corner.

The Highlanders were reduced to 14 men on the hour as tighthead prop Clint Newland was sin-binned for repeated infringements.

The Stormers made it 26-9 when Brits scored his try after breaking free from a maul and Grant converted.

Vainikolo grabbed a late consolation try for the New Zealanders.

The Stormers are fifth in the table on 31 points and the Highlanders are 12th.

Reuters