Hurricanes 11
The Blues withstood a desperate late assault from the Hurricanes to emerge 17-11 victors in their Super 15 rugby match in Wellington and maintain their position at the top of the table.
Deep into injury time, Hurricanes replacement halfback Tyson Keats had the chance to atone for a moment of ill discipline which appeared to have cost his side the match, but his lunge for the line was met with strong defence to force him to spill the ball.
Had Keats scored he would have given Hurricanes first five-eighth Aaron Cruden the chance to win a match with his boot for the second time in a week, but Blues substitute Chris Smylie did enough to force the ball free and deny him what looked like a certain try.
Super 15 standings
The Taranaki No.9 had earlier spent 10 minutes off the field after his dangerous tackle on Blues halfback Alby Mathewson left referee Jonathan Kaplan no option but to produce the yellow card.
What made it more unpalatable for the home side was that it came after they had edged into a 11-9 lead and Keats departed only seconds after he had taken the field.
Blues kicker Lachie Munro landed the ensuing penalty and then Mathewson made the Hurricanes pay by darting over after a lineout drive with 14 minutes left.
Mathewson, who signed a new deal with the Blues yesterday, was a constant menace against his old side and it took a last-gasp tackle from Hurricanes replacement Mark Reddish to prevent him grabbing a double five minutes later.
The Blues were never able to put away the Hurricanes and the final five minutes were spent camped deep in their own territory defending their line.
The match, played in light rain and greasy conditions, failed to really get going until the second half after the Blues had taken a 9-3 lead into the interval.
Both teams endeavoured to play an expansive game in the first half but more often than not moves broke down through poor handling and inaccurate passing.
The breakdown was keenly contested and Munro and Cruden traded early penalties before two more Munro three-pointers rewarded the Blues for their slight dominance, despite the loss of All Blacks blindside flanker Jerome Kaino late in the half with a hamstring twinge.
The Hurricanes, scrappy and skittish in the first half, offered more after the break and should have scored after nice work from a short lineout down the blindside between replacements Dane Coles and Jeremy Thrush, but a telling tackle from Chris Lowrey, prevented Thrush from dotting down.
The big lock made amends shortly after when he charged down a Stephen Brett kick, scooped up the loose ball and then fed Cruden who sent Hosea Gear away for the Hurricanes' sole try.
A Cruden penalty then gave the hosts the lead before Keats' indiscretion cost them dearly.
Blues 17 (Alby Mathewson try; Lachie Munro 4 pen) Hurricanes 11 (Hosea Gear try; Aaron Cruden 2 pen). Halftime: 9-3.
- NZPA
