The Blues have scored a last-gasp win over the Reds in Brisbane to move within a point of the Super Rugby Pacific competition lead.
They effectively stole a 41-34 victory with a wide-ranging try to reserve halfback Sam Nock after the final hooter had sounded having been 11 points in arrears.
Tries to No 8 Hoskins Sottutu and hooker Kurt Eklund levelled the scores before they created space for reserve wing Caleb Clarke in the final play of the game, with Nock finding himself in space for a 20m run to the line.
LATEST HEADLINES:
The Blues were ahead 13-7 after a first half of dominated by hard running and tackling from both sides with Patrick Tuipulotu and Cole Forbes scoring for the visitors and one-test All Black Jeff Toomaga-Allen for the Reds.
The star of the game was 20-year-old Reds winger Tim Ryan who scored three tries in the space of 14 minutes to cap a remarkable debut.
It put the home side 31-20 ahead but they could not close it out, leaving them sixth in the standings.
The Blues once again fielded a dominant scrum, while loose forwards Sotutu and Dalton Papali'i looking strong while halfback Taufa Funaki was lively behind the pack.
It was the sixth consecutive win for the Blues, who boast the same 8-1 record, the same as the Hurricanes but without an extra bonus point.
The Blues will host the Canes at Eden Park in a couple of week , however prior to that they are away to the Rebels in Melbourne.
Meanwhile the Highlanders' 7-6 win over the Force in Dunedin lacked anything really worthwhile, other than it was a victory for the southern side.
Grinding out the dour win was possibly a good omen for the Highlanders next game in Tonga as they face Moana Pasifika on Saturday afternoon.
Blues 41 (Patrick Tuipulotu, Cole Forbes, Angus Ta'avao, Hoskins Sotutu, Kurt Eklund, Sam Nock tries; Harry Plummer pen, 4 con) Reds 34 (Tim Ryan 3 tries, Jeff Toomaga-Allenn, Suliasi Vunivalu tries; Tom Lynagh 2 con, Lawson Creighton con, pen). HT: 13-7
Highlanders 7 (Folau Fakatava try; Cameron Millar con) Force 6 (Ben Donaldson 2 pen). HT: 0-3
Comments