Melbourne Rebels missed the chance to drag themselves back into reach of the Australian conference lead after a loss to the Chiefs in Waikato on Saturday.
The Chiefs' 36-15 win puts them on top of the New Zealand conference, with the best points tally in Super Rugby, while the Rebels finals chances look even more distant.
With second-placed ACT Brumbies on a bye and conference leaders New South Wales Waratahs losing to the Crusaders on Friday night, a Rebels' win would have caught up some lost ground, but their slim finals hopes only rest on the Brumbies and Waratahs losing form and dropping down the ladder.
The Waratahs remain on top of the Australian conference with 30 points, the Brumbies are on 29 and the Rebels 23 with one round left before the international break in June.
Rebels captain Nic Stirzaker said his side couldn't match the Chiefs' urgent play.
"The Chiefs started really well and they are a tough side to catch," Stirzaker said.
"They just dominated the territory and finished their opportunities in the green zone. They were getting fast ball and their breakdown work was really clinical, so it was hard for us to get set in defence."
The Chiefs stamped themselves on the contest within minutes, forcing the ball wide to centre Seta Tamanivalu, who saw the defence drift so ran through a hole and scored the try.
But the Rebels' didn't drop their heads working forward and drew a penalty, which man-of-the-match Mike Harris stoked over to make it 7-3 after 11 minutes.
The Chiefs would score three more tries before half-time to put themselves in the driver's seat. he Rebels couldn't keep the home side out of their advantage line and appeared powerless to repel the home side, with Nathan Harris, Toni Pulu and Aaron Cruden all scoring tries.
The Rebels lost two forwards before half-time, with lock Sam Jeffries failing a concussion test and prop Jamie Hagan forced off with what appeared to be a leg injury.
But the Rebels fought on and looked to have their first try in the shadow of half-time as Jack Debreczeni's reflex pass found Tom English, who scored next to the left touchline – but the referee called it a forward pass.
Strong running from Sean McMahon and Lopeti Timani gave the Rebels' great field position to start the second half before Debreczeni's pass set Mike Harris through a hole and over for a try to see the margin cut to 26-10 on 46 minutes.
The Rebels held the Chiefs from half-time until the 72nd minute, when Chiefs' gun fullback Damian McKenzie lofted the perfect pass over the defence to Andrew Horrell, who scored a try.
Mike Harris' busting run moments later cut open the defence before his no-look pass to supporting runner Reece Hodge saw the centre run 30 metres to score.
The Rebels host Western Force at AAMI Park next Sunday at 4.05pm.
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