Blues win Auckland thriller

2008-05-16 11:28

Cape Town - Fullback Nick Evans kicked a penalty for the only points of the second half to lift the Blues to a 19-17 win on Friday over the Hurricanes, leaving both teams uncertain of qualifying for the Super 14 semi-finals.

Evans's fifth goal from five attempts helped the Blues turn around a 17-16 half-time deficit and, supported by tenacious second half defence, let them hang on for a win which sustained their slim playoff chances.

The win lifted the Blues into third place while the Hurricanes' consolation bonus point kept them second with 41 points. Both teams must now nervously await the outcome of matches on Saturday to find out whether they have secured a playoff place.

The Hurricanes needed a win to be sure of hosting a home semi-final, but their defeat at Eden Park, in front of a crowd of 37 000, all but ended that hope and left them only clinging to a top four place.

They can still be supplanted in the top four, as can the Blues, by the Waratahs, Sharks and Stormers.

"We're disappointed but the one positive to come out of the match was that we didn't give it up to them without a fight," Hurricanes captain Rodney So'oialo said. "We kept trying right until the 83rd minute but they were very physical and we didn't come away with the win."

Hurricanes wing Hosea Gear scored two tries within 53 seconds in the first half to lift his team to their one point half-time advantage, although the Hurricanes spent most of the second half stuck in their own territory.

The Blues remained dominant through the crucial first 20 minutes of the second spell and were only placed under real pressure in the last 10 minutes when the Hurricanes began to gain a steady supply of possession in their desperate hunt for victory.

Young flyhalf Willie Ripia had three attempts at a winning drop goal in the last six minutes, but all three sailed wide.

"We didn't get the five points we wanted but we did get a very good win," Blues captain Troy Flavell said.

"I'm very proud of that. We were a bit down in the dumps and out of it in the middle of the season but we've fought back very well to put ourselves in with a chance. The next 48 hours will determine whether we go any further..."

The Blues led with Evans's first penalty in the sixth minute but were shocked when Gear scored tries against the run of play in the 19th and 20th minutes to give the Hurricanes a 14-3 lead.

The Blues immediately hit back with a try to lock Anthony Boric, cutting the lead to 14-10, and an exchange of penalties between Evans and Piri Weepu completed the first half scoring.

The Blues were over the Hurricanes' line twice in the early stages of the second half, through Jerome Kaino and David Smith, but both players were held up by desperate defence.

Evans finally broke the scoring deadlock with a penalty in the 62nd minute, which gave the Blues their first lead in 44 minutes, and from them on the Blues held grimly to their two-point margin.

- Sport24