First take: Same old for the Blues

Dom Shipperley scores the Rebels' bonus-point try during their victory over the Blues. Photo / Getty

Rebels 42
Blues 22

Entertaining yep, another defeat yep.

The Blues brought big hits, froth and a set-piece try to Melani Nanai which is as good as you'd wish to see. They were golden moments for the Blues in their trip to Melbourne but they were too infrequent to overcome a determined home team.

Around the spectacular there were the other bits and pieces which fill out the fabric in the game and which the Blues again failed to deliver. The lineout shuddered, passes were thrown to teammates under pressure and excitement clouded pragmatism.

They even injured each other when Josh Bekhuis' thumb connected, accidentally with Lolagi Visinia's right eye.

Sparkplug Jamison Gibson-Park brought some darting runs as a replacement halfback, sniping around the fringes to stop defenders drifting and opening space elsewhere. He scored, then George Moala barged over and the Blues were sniffing a rare win.

That smell was brief as they switched off and failed to control the kickoff. Dom Shipperley grabbed the loose ball and sped to the line.

Very combative then equally sloppy. The familiar season pattern rages on as the forces gather to try and generate positive planks in coach John Kirwan's campaign for re-election.