Ill-discipline and a high error count have cost the Hurricanes dearly with the Chiefs securing a 26-18 Super Rugby win in Hamilton.
Coming off two hard-fought wins over the Highlanders and the Blues, the Chiefs set up the win on Friday with a dominant first half, running in two tries to lead 17-6 at the break.
They controlled possession and territory for vast periods of the match, proved too strong at the breakdown and wrapped up the win with a controlled kicking display from Damian McKenzie, who landed two conversions and four penalty goals.
Both teams showed plenty of willingness to run the ball but it was the Chiefs who adapted better to conditions made marginal by an almost unprecedented rainstorm that brought flooding to New Zealand's upper North Island.
An early Beauden Barrett penalty put the Hurricanes ahead, and while the Chiefs had the chance three minutes later to equalise, they opted twice to kick for touch.
The risk and reward approach paid dividends in spades as the 20 minute mark ticked over.
With Canes flanker Ardie Savea yellow-carded for collapsing the maul, Brodie Retallick proved unstoppable from close range after Chiefs No.8 Michael Leitch made the initial run from an attacking scrum.
Barrett closed the gap with another penalty, but just as Savea returned to the fray, Canes lock Michael Fatialofa's high tackle earned him 10 minutes in the sin bin.
The Hurricanes looked to have done enough to restrict the Chiefs to a 10-6 lead at the break but Augustine Pulu ran onto a canny Tawera Kerr-Barlow kick through from an attacking maul to dot down.
The second half proved a battle of attrition, with the Hurricanes struggling to get their hands on go-forward ball for the first 20 minutes.
They lost fullback Nehe Milner-Skudder to an ankle injury in that time, but were given a glimmer of hope after 63 minutes when halfback TJ Perenara muscled his way over.
Unfortunately, the Hurricanes' mistakes continued to mount, and the Chiefs continued to capitalise via McKenzie's accurate boot.
The defending champions looked to have salvaged a bonus point try when Julian Savea crossed out wide with two minutes left on the clock but McKenzie's last-gasp penalty put the consolation point out of reach.
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