A dose of Waikato soil managed to do the trick for an out-of-sort Chiefs sneaking past the Melbourne Rebels 22-16 in Hamilton.

Fresh from a three-week overseas leg, producing a loss and two draws, the defending champions kept both their Super Rugby credentials and their winning record at their Waikato Stadium fortress in check.

Melbourne Rebels mid field Mitch Inman looks to pass in the tackle of Chiefs' Tanerau Latimer and Gareth Anscombe. Photos: Tracy Hardy

Not since April 13, 2013 have the defending champions tasted defeat at home losing 31-23 to the Queensland Reds.

And they were able to retain that record in front of the 11,835 fans thanks to the boot of first five Gareth Anscombe despite yet another unconvincing outing.

Presumably bearing the brunt of coach Dave Rennie's stern words for the past few weeks the Chiefs jumped out of the blocks mounting a 19-0 lead before the Rebels even showed any signs of life.

But a pair of quick Anscombe penalties followed by the sides sole try by lock Michael Fitzgerald inside the opening 15 was quickly followed by a lean 40 minute dry spell.

On the back of a scything Anscombe run through the heart of the Rebels defence Sam Cane was brought down short of the line with Fitzgerald the benefactor of muscling over from the ensuing ruck.

Guilty of falling asleep and failing to throw any decent blows the Chiefs allowed the visitors back into the game with fullback Jason Woodward nailing two penalties.

The gap was then cut short to 19-13 when hooker Shota Horie crossed in the 43rd minute as the Rebels began swinging the momentum in their favour.

Continuing his flawless night with the boot Anscombe then eased the pressure with his fifth penalty of the night before Woodward responded in similar fashion in the 65th minute for a 22-16 margin.

Clinging on desperately for the final 25 minutes the home side managed to retain the slim scoreline, while also being down to 14 men in the final 10 minutes with prop Pauliasi Manu sinbinned for collapsing a Rebels maul.

The much needed victory gives the Chiefs an extra breath of room at the top of the New Zealand conference ahead of their clash with the Crusaders next Saturday.

Chiefs 22: Michael Fitzgerald tries; Gareth Anscombe 5 pen, 1 con

Rebels 13: Shota Horie tries; Jason Woodward 2 pen, 1 con

Half time: 19-6