Blues crash again

Isa Nacewa in action this morning in Johannesburg. Touchline / Getty Images

Cats 34 Blues 33

CAPE TOWN - The Cats produced their best display of the season but had to hang on desperately to beat the Blues 34-33 in a Super 14 match at Ellis Park this morning.

It was their second win of the season and only their seventh win in five years as they moved above the Western Force at the bottom of the standings.

The result confirmed that the Blues will play no part in the semi-finals this year.

Springbok centre Jaque Fourie scored a hat-trick for the home team in a match that the Cats always led but still battled to close out as the Blues staged a superb rearguard in the last 20 minutes.

The visitors scored two tries in the final three minutes through lock Kurtis Huia and wing Doug Howlett to come within a point of the lead.

The home team rallied, however, and survived a nervy last two minutes to win for the first time since the second round.

The Cats raced into a 20-0 lead inside half an hour with tries from Fourie and halfback Jano Vermaak and two penalties and two conversions from first five-eighths Andre Pretorius.

But as the first half drew to a close the Blues struck quickly to ensure they had the momentum going into the second period.

Centres Isa Nacewa and Anthony Tuitavake scored tries in the 37th and 40th minutes to make the halftime score 20-14 and keep the Cats on edge.

Six minutes into the second half, though, Fourie chased a Vermaak kick and scored his second. In the 57th minute he completed his hat-trick with a superb try that started from a defensive lineout on the Cats' 22-metre line.

From then it was all Blues as their fight-back began with a try from fullback Brent Ward on the hour to set the stage for an exciting finale.

Cats 34 Blues 33
Cats: Tries: Jaque Fourie (6,46,57), Jano Vermaak (28); Conversions: Andre Pretorius (7,28,47,58); Penalties: Andre Pretorius (3,14)
Blues: Tries: Isa Nacewa (37), Anthony Tuitavake (40), Brent Ward (60), Kurtis
Haiu (76), Doug Howlett (78); Conversions: Luke McAlister (38,40), Isa Nacewa (77,79)
Half Time: 20-14

Standings after round 13

Played, points
Crusaders 12 47
Waratahs 12 44
Hurricanes 12 43
Brumbies 12 38
Sharks 12 33
Bulls 12 33
Chiefs 12 32
Blues 12 29
Highlanders 12 26
Stormers 12 23
Cheetahs 12 23
Reds 12 18
Cats 12 14
Force 12 11

- REUTERS