Blues land late blows to knock out Sharks

The Blues landed a series of late blows to inflict a flattering 36-13 Super 12 rugby win over the Sharks in Auckland tonight.

The Blues scored three tries in the last eight minutes to finally put away a tenacious South African side who had clung on grimly to stay in contention.

The Sharks played well above their reputation as the stragglers of the Super 12 who entered the match fresh from a 9-40 loss to the Chiefs last weekend and leaking an average of four tries a match.

They were well in the contest at 13-15 behind entering the closing 10 minutes before the Blues hit their straps, with a lineout steal inside the Stormers 22 leading to a fine try wide on the left to winger Joe Rokocoko.

The Sharks then coughed up the ball almost immediately after the restart, leading to the second try of the match for Blues fullback Mils Muliaina, before winger Doug Howlett was on the end of some sharp passing from his insides to complete the tryscoring action in the 79th minute.

Only outstanding Sharks defence kept the South Africans in touch at halftime when they trailed 6-12 after conceding tries to first five-eighth Tasesa Lavea and Muliaina.

Denied possession and territory by a dominance Blues forward pack, the Sharks were forced into a defensive role which they coped admirably well with.

The early omens were not good for the tourists as Lavea scored the opening try barely two minutes into the match after the Blues began the game in storming fashion.

They let their guard down only once more in the spell, allowing Muliaina to cross the tryline in the 24th minute after the Sharks spilled the ball for Muliaina to launch a counter attack which the fullback finished off following an incisive run from centre Ben Atiga.

Two penalties by first five-eighth Conrad Barnard were the Sharks' lot in the first spell but they hit the lead eight minutes into the second spell when Barnard converted a try by winger Cedric Mkhise following a thrusting run by Trevor Halstead.

The result left the Sharks firmly stuck to the bottom of the standings with just one win from seven outings, while the bonus-point victory lifted the Blues to 21 points and fourth place ahead of the remaining matches of the round.

Blues 36
(Mils Muliaina 2, Tasesa Lavea, Joe Rokocoko, Doug Howlett tries; Luke McAlister pen, 4 con)

Sharks 13
(Cedric Mkhise try; Conrad Barnard 2 pen, con).

Halftime: 12-6.

- NZPA