Rugby: Blues break hoodoo with maximum effect

Alby Mathewson of the Blues celebrates after scoring a try against the Queensland Reds in Brisbane. Photo / Getty Images

The Blues spiked their Ballymore hoodoo on a rare visit to Queensland rugby headquarters as the Reds inconsistency resurfaced during a pulsating Super 14 encounter in a soggy Brisbane tonight.

Any joy at upending the Crusaders last weekend evaporated for the Reds as the Blues secured a tense 27-18 bonus point third round win as a slice of history eluded an undermanned home side dogged by fresh injury concerns.

Third quarter tries to Anthony Boric and Alby Mathewson overturned a 8-13 halftime deficit and appeared to have the Blues in charge but a crucial refereeing call gifted the Reds field position and set the platform for a frantic finale once prop Laurie Weeks was propelled over to make it 18-20 on the hour.

An assistant referee report to Steve Walsh proved the momentum shifter as the Blues were forced to trudge back 80-metres from the Reds goaline after Serge Lilo was penalised for using a forearm.

From the resulting set piece Weeks scored but crucially first five-eighth Quade Cooper, who nailed his first three kicks, missed the conversion and a handy penalty six minutes later.

The Reds laid siege to the Blues line deep in the final 10 minutes and only desperate defence and a faint knock on from replacement wing Will Chambers over the line saved the visitors from requiring another comeback.

They sought a bonus point instead and it arrived a minute from time when wing Rudi Wulf crossed in the left hand corner soon after Mathewson lost control as he dived inside the right hand corner post -- those attacks instigated by Stephen Brett's pressure-relieving 60-metre punt.

Wulf's touchdown signalled the end of the Blues five-match losing streak at the venue during the Super 12 and ensured the Reds are still waiting to notch back-to-back wins for the first time since 2006.

The Blues provisionally improve to sixth on the ladder while the Reds sit eighth.

Queensland's return to their spiritual home for the first time since 2005 started perfectly when new captain Will Genia inflicted more pain on a Cantabrian, a week after the Crusaders were belted 41-20 across town at Suncorp Stadium.

The match was barely 60 seconds old when the Blues' Canterbury import Brett had a chip kick picked off superbly by the Wallabies halfback who scampered 60-metres to leave Cooper a relatively straight forward conversion.

Brett then hooked a penalty after Genia failed to release when he was caught at the back of a scrum but Cooper -- who scored a provincial record 31 points last weekend -- made no mistake when No 8 Peter Saili infringed at a ruck in front 35-metres out to give the Reds a 10-point buffer.

Brett briefly atoned for a couple of lapses when Weeks was pinged at the breakdown; giving the pivot a tap over in front of the sticks, but it is a concern that he ended the match with just two successes from six attempts.

Centre Rene Ranger also redeemed himself three minutes after ignoring a three-on-one overlap to somehow elude six defenders after taking a floated pass flat footed neat the left hand corner to provide the Blues opening five-pointer 10 minutes from halftime.

The Reds were guilty of dropping their intensity, particularly after the break and also lost key personnel -- fullback Peter Hynes to a wrist injury while wing Rod Davies needed stitched after an accidental head clash with former Blues flanker Daniel Braid.

Keven Mealamu marked his 98th appearance for the Blues with a strong all round game -- it was the All Blacks hooker defending desperately when Chambers fluffed a potentially match-winning score.

- NZPA