Blues bouyed by bonus

Blues 32 Stormers 15

The Blues' Super 14 rugby revival continued in Auckland tonight with a 32-15 defeat of the Stormers which included their first bonus point of the season.

The only team yet to secure a bonus point heading into the ninth round, the Blues managed it when replacement halfback Junior Poluleuligaga crossed for their fourth and final try after the final hooter had sounded.

The sideline conversion from Isa Nacewa completed a 17-point haul from the first five-eighth as the hosts emerged deserved winners against struggling opponents at Eden Park.

However, it still wasn't the authoritative performance the star-studded Blues would have been seeking as they seek to move out of the lower half of the table.

They played in fits and starts, scoring three tries in the final 25 minutes, and kept their tryline clean, conceding five penalties to Stormers first five-eighth Naas Olivier.

The Stormers' playoff hopes are long gone, having won just two of their eight games.

Their victory chances slipped when two players were sinbinned early in the second half -- hooker Hanyani Shimange in the 51st minute for a professional foul and captain De Wet Barry after 55 minutes for a late tackle.

Down to 13 men, they instantly conceded a try to Blues hooker and captain Keven Mealamu but otherwise managed to hold the Blues out and even get within range at 15-20 behind soon after full numbers were restored.

However, centre Anthony Tuitavake and Poluleuligaga made the result secure and lifted the Blues past the Stormers on the table to 10th spot.

Nacewa was a dominant figure in the first half, scoring all the Blues points including a slick try as they took a 13-6 lead to the break.

Blues captain Mealamu said scoring a fourth try wasn't the main thing on his mind in the second half.

"Firstly we just wanted to win the game. Getting a bonus point was just a bonus," he said.

Mealamu was pleased with the improvement in the team's lineout after a shoddy showing against the Bulls last weekend. However, the sluggish start tonight was a concern.

"We were probably a little bit nervous. We hadn't put two wins together this year and some of the boys were a little bit apprehensive."

Stormers skipper Barry bemoaned his team's failure to hold onto the ball, particularly when they got into a good position.

"We made too many mistakes in the first half, I think there were 10 penalties against us, which really counted against us," he said.

"The Blues played quite well and defended well.

"(But) We have to have a look at ourselves, there were way too many mistakes."

Blues 32 (Isa Nacewa, Keven Mealamu, Anthony Tuitavake, Junior Poluleuligaga tries; Nacewa 2 pen, 3 con)
Stormers 15 (Naas Olivier 5 pen).
HT: 13-6.

- NZPA