The Chiefs demolished the Western Force 53-10 in Hamilton tonight.

If there were points for resilience the Chiefs would win as handsomely as they did on Saturday night against the Force.

Charlie Ngatai scoring a try tonight against the Force. Photos: Tracy Hardy.

A hectic round-the-world travel schedule, a squad decimated by injuries, you name it, they overcome it. It was all evident in their brilliant 53-10 thrashing at FMG Stadium Waikato.

Having won three games on the road, but dropping their first home match against the Lions, the Chiefs were keen to atone and give the 12,339 fans some rewards in the flesh.

They got them in a big way, with some nine tries run in, in a record winning margin against the Force.

The bonus point-win puts the Chiefs clear at the top of the New Zealand conference for another week. It was really stylish stuff, after leading just 12-10 at halftime.

Last weekend the Force stayed in touch with the Hurricanes for an hour, before being blown away late. This time the wheels fell away a wee bit earlier, with unforced errors creeping in and putting them under pressure.

And the Chiefs were ruthless in punishing them.

Charlie Ngatai had an absolute stormer at second-five, scoring a remarkable four tries. He keeps putting up his hand for vacant All Blacks midfield spots. He's got more of a kicking game than originally seems apparent, and it's not just his hard-running which the Chiefs thrive from. His finishes were a mixture of power and style.

The left-side shift was on all night, with Aaron Cruden, Ngatai and James Lowe always in the thick of it.

Early on the Force made all the running. The visitors had only made two tackles by the time the Chiefs had made 27 (and missed four).

But the home side was just so lethal when they got their opportunity. The Force went to sleep just momentarily, and there was desperate work from the Chiefs loosies to dive on the open ball. It turned into a length-of-the-field stunner which will be up there with the try of the season, and saw All Black-in-waiting Damian McKenzie continue his record of crossing the chalk in every game this season.

The hosts' sole slip-up in countering from deep saw Ben Tapuai cross for the Force to take a 10-5 lead. The hosts, quite rightly, didn't let it discourage them. They are good enough to get themselves out of holes they may find themselves in.

Despite having just 37 per cent possession and 35 per cent territory in the first spell, the Chiefs were able to lead at the break thanks to Michael Leitch going off the back of a solid scrum and swatting the normally solid Matt Hodgson aside.

But once the Chiefs got in good positions in the second spell, they made it count.

Their discipline was much-improved, and they were able to unleash their attacking flair.

The Force lost No 8 Angus Cottrell in the 56th minute for a tip-tackle on Sam McNicol, and from the dismissal the Chiefs opted for the hammer-blow, with McKenzie offloading beautifully for Cruden to put away Toni Pulu with his first touch of the ball.

That set up the onslaught to come.

With the Brumbies lying in wait, Chiefs coach Dave Rennie was able to get all his bench on, including four Super Rugby debutants. Stephen Donald got 12 minutes in his first game at this level in five years and after hitting the upright with his first conversion attempt, he knocked his second over.

Chiefs 53 (Charlie Ngatai 4, Damian McKenzie 2, Michael Leitch, Toni Pulu, James Lowe tries; Damian McKenzie 3 con, Stephen Donald con) Force 10 (Ben Tapuai try; Peter Grant con, pen) HT: 12-10.

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