Blues scrape to win over Reds

Two pieces of late Carlos Spencer magic sparked a listless Blues to life and an 18-15 win over the Queensland Reds in their Super 12 match at Eden Park, Auckland, today.

Spencer had earlier been one of the Blues' villains, making life difficult for his outsides with delayed passes as the disjointed Blues trailed 0-10 after 60 minutes.

However, it was his jinking run in the 70th minute try that took the Blues into the lead for the first time in the match.

The second piece of Spencer brilliance saw him break inside Reds halfback Josh Valentine and feed openside flanker Daniel Braid before centre Luke McAlister goose-stepped his way under the posts to take the Blues to what would be an unassailable lead.

A late try to Reds flanker Daniel Heenan pulled the score back to 18-15 but it was too little too late.

A low point in the game came five minutes from the end when All Black Jerome Kaino, who had missed the tsunami charity game at Twickenham because of injury, was subbed on and delivered a high tackle to Valentine. Kaino was yellow-carded by referee Tappe Henning.

After being held scoreless in the first half despite a wealth of territory and possession, it took the 61st minute sinbinning of Reds loosehead prop Nick Stiles to allow the Blues on the board with a penalty to last year's All Black tourist McAlister, deputising at centre for Ben Atiga.

McAlister seemed to have left his kicking boots at home following up his five-from-five last week with three from eight, including missing his first four attempts.

After two early penalty misses in the first half by McAlister, the Blues resorted to touch kicks by Spencer for the rest of the half, which finished a lame 3-0 to the Reds.

It was the 43rd minute before Reds wing Wendell Sailor scored the first try of the match.

Following up on his own initial break the former Brisbane Bronco ran over Blues second five-eighth Sam Tuitupou and spun over in the tackle of fullback Mils Muliaina.

Sailor and fullback Drew Mitchell, standing in for Wallaby Chris Latham who is with the southern hemisphere side for the tsunami charity match, struggled under the high ball at Eden Park, spilling consecutive Spencer up-and-unders.

Mitchell atoned though with a superb covering tackle on flying Blues winger Joe Rokocoko, saving what would have been a try.

For the Blues, lock Ali Williams ruled the lineouts with a near-faulteless combination with hooker Keven Mealamu and was prominent around the field and at kickoffs.

Former Wallaby wing Ben Tune, making his return to the Super 12 after nearly two years out with injury, couldn't make a fairytale return for the Reds.

He was chased into touch by Muliaina as the tryline beckoned late in the game after being subbed on.Blues 18 (Carlos Spencer, Luke McAlister tries; McAlister 2 pen, con)

Queensland Reds 15 (Wendell Sailor, Daniel Heenan tries; Elton Flatley pen, con).

Halftime: Reds 3-0.

- NZPA