Blues have edge in mind-numbing spectacle

Blues 23 Cats 6

After another difficult week the only mission for the Blues was getting a result.

So while the victory against the Cats was a numbing spectacle for the small crowd at Albany, it gave the Blues another fillip in what will be a tough trip to make the playoffs.

It was also further proof that the best way to beat the Cats is to give them the ball because they have scant idea about using it.

Not that the Blues were very effective either but at least they were tuned into some attacks and had the ability to cross the chalk three times.

They also had the wit to help their bus driver with instructions about a detour to avoid lengthy delays on the motorway close to the Albany ground on Saturday.

But there was nothing as clever in the first half of the game where handling errors, collapsed scrums, average kicking and decision-making were prevalent. There were some serious collisions in defence but not a great deal of thoughtful football.

The Blues were more dangerous, had more territory, made more mistakes and led 6-3. One quick lineout throw almost created an 85m try until Isa Nacewa tied up, the pack was held up over the line and Jerome Kaino was taken out in the corner.

Lineouts had been a problem area for the Blues all week as they worked on ways to counter the absence of Ali Williams (suspension) and the injured Greg Rawlinson and Angus Macdonald.

Bradley Mika was the only fit specialist lock.

Chresten Davis was a ring-in but was not quite up to speed after a year in Japan and then he succumbed to a virus on game day.

Loose forward Nick Williams, who had filled in strongly for half a game against the Brumbies, could not train at all because of a foot injury.

Eventually Williams showed what a damaging force he could be although playing him at lock did not do much for the scrum and lineout.

But the Blues' improvisation at the lineout broke the game open early in the second half when Mika, standing at the front of the lineout, returned a short throw from Keven Mealamu before they interpassed in a 50m run to the line.

Mika noticed the Cats hooker looking down his side of the lineout and reckoned he was unprepared for the switch.

"We had tried it in training but I dropped the ball," Mika said.

Further tries to wings Doug Howlett and Joe Rokocoko eased any Blues' anxiety about the result but they could not find a fourth bonus-point try.

Mika, Williams and Kaino had high work rates and impact while the loudest cheer of the night came when Carlos Spencer replaced Tasesa Lavea for the last quarter.

Lavea had been steady, kicking for territory but with instructions to keep the ball in play rather than put more pressure on the lineout while Spencer looked most anxious to make things happen.

Captain Xavier Rush said his side had found it difficult to recapture the intensity they had in the previous match against the Brumbies.

"At halftime we talked about it and said we were about 15 per cent off," he said.

A request for more urgency was answered, the crucial moment came with Mika's try from the lineout and the Blues had made up more ground on the leading group in the Super 12.