With their two victories this season both coming against a hot-and-cold Hurricanes side, this was by default the Blues’ most convincing this year.
The 80 minutes saw the Blues’ forwards outmuscle their opposition, while Beauden Barrett gave a masterful display in the No 10 jersey, as both he and Hoskins Sotutu left the field to standing ovations.
Meanwhile, having chalked up back-to-back wins for the first time in their history, Moana couldn’t make it three from three.
While Tana Umaga’s side were able to bank on a more than healthy core of away support, ill-discipline saw Moana playing at the wrong end of the field more often than not, and relying on individual brilliance to spark any kind of point-scoring.
It took the Blues less than three minutes to get on the board, as a platform laid by the forwards was converted by Ricky Riccitelli, who barged over for the first points of the afternoon.
But while the hosts were able to open the scoring, adding to it became harder and harder, through nobody’s fault but theirs. AJ Lam was tackled into touch, before Riccitelli squandered an attacking lineout inside Moana’s 22.
It wasn’t until Beauden Barrett found himself with space on the left wing, chipped, regathered and scored in the corner, that the Blues were able to convert their pressure into points, midway through the first half.
Down 10-0, Moana nearly hit back through standout winger Kyren Taumoefolau, who found space on the right, only to see his kick to the in-goal defused by Barrett, and keep the Blues’ sheet clean for the time being.
At the other end, though, an inch-perfect kick from Barrett resulted in his side’s third try, as the ensuing lineout saw captain Patrick Tuipulotu add another score, and a 17-0 lead with more than 10 minutes remaining in the first half.
But Moana have made a habit of clawing back deficits already this season, and buoyed by a healthy support of away fans, showed the Blues they wouldn’t go down without a fight.
Another Taumoefolau kick saw the visitors gain important field position, after the winger beat Finlay Christie in the air to regather, and eventually saw Semisi Tupou Ta’eiloa dot over on the right to see Moana finally score their first points after half an hour.
However, the Blues would restore their advantage before the interval, as Mark Tele’a stepped his way over the tryline to score a bonus point try, after AJ Lam left Moana chasing shadows on their right flank, to send the hosts into halftime leading 24-5.
After the resumption, Taumoefolau again threatened, only to be taken into touch by Lam and Christie with the tryline in sight.
Lam was a threat on both sides of the ball; a strong carry inside Moana’s 22 paved the way for Sotutu to grab the first try of the second half, even with three defenders hanging off him.
With the game effectively over after that, Miracle Faiilagi marked his return from a hamstring injury with a try, proving too hard to stop from close to the line.
But anything Moana did, the Blues matched – if not bettered. Kurt Eklund came off the bench and on to the scoresheet, before Taumouefolau fittingly had the final say with a try in the corner after another strong display from the young winger.
Despite the significance of the win, the Blues will be tested in their hunt for three straight victories when they travel to face the newly minted table-toppers, the Crusaders, next Friday.
Moana, meanwhile, can get their push for a maiden finals appearance back on track against the Brumbies when they return to their North Harbour home ground on Saturday.
Blues 36 (Ricky Riccitelli, Beauden Barrett, Patrick Tuipulotu, Mark Tele’a, Hoskins Sotutu, Kurt Eklund tries; Barrett 3 cons)
Moana Pasifika 17 (Semisi Tupou Ta’eiloa, Miracle Faiilagi, Kyren Taumoefolau tries; Patrick Pellegrini con)
HT: 24-5
