Hurricanes 11
It was a repeat clash and a repeat blooper which allowed the Blues to ice the Hurricanes last night on the Canes' home patch.
Replacement halfback Tyson Keats had been on the field for only a few minutes when he was sinbinned for a dangerous tip tackle on Alby Mathewson. That 10 minutes in the cooler allowed the Blues to regain their composure and their sting.
A repaired Mathewson jigged and dummied as the Blues smashed a lineout drive ahead, then the halfback strolled across the chalk.
That try was the Blues' first in 148 minutes of Super 15 rugby but a golden glow in a blurry performance in difficult conditions.
Keats' yellow card was a sorry reminder for the Hurricanes of the teams' earlier clash at Eden Park when captain Andrew Hore was sinbinned, dubiously, and the Canes lost their bite. It was not Keats' only moment in centrestage.
In the last play of the game he dived at the line but the television match official confirmed to referee Jonathan Kaplan the halfback had lost the ball and the Blues survived.
While victory was sweet, Blues blindsider Jerome Kaino became the latest All Black casualty, heading out of the contest before halftime with a damaged right hamstring.
His absence left a pack with limited experience to take a slender lead into the wind and rain. The Blues started the season with No 8 their only non-All Black in the forwards, but when Kaino left they were down to three national reps in the pack.
It was a grind in tough conditions where mistakes and sloppy options seemed to rival the constructive play.
The Hurricanes were determined to use the wind after the break to find territory, up the tempo if they could and get up fast in defence. It took a little time but they latched on to coach Mark Hammett's words, though replacement lock Jeremy Thrush bombed the chance of a try when he lost the ball over the line.
He soon made amends, sticking out his foot to block Brett's kick, the ball rebounding for Aaron Cruden who sent Hosea Gear on a 35 metre surge for the try. Cruden missed the conversion but soon had a penalty and at the 60-minute mark the Canes were in the lead for the first time.
They had the momentum, they were in charge, the game was theirs to control. Then Keats made his first blunder and the tenor of the game altered once more.
So new venue, same result. The Blues had beaten the Hurricanes in round five at Eden Park.
The Blues had not lost since late-February and last night's result meant they have gone on a stretch of eight wins split by a draw against the Force.
Last night, the competition leaders were not about to relinquish the momentum they have accrued this season, though they made very hard work of their latest task.
Lineouts and passes went astray early, captain Keven Mealamu had trouble finding his jumping targets on an awkward night for skills. They had other blips, with kicks charged down and Rene Ranger knocking on in his 22 then conceding a penalty trying to save the situation at a ruck.
Cruden goaled that chance while Lachie Munro, in his first start for the Blues, kicked three penalties as the hosts infringed under pressure deep in their own half.
Neither side looked close to scoring although the Blues had an outside chance when Mathewson broke through the middle of a ruck, sprinted 45 metres and then kicked back into centrefield where Stephen Brett was the lone chaser.
He pressured Alapati Leiua but the wing overran the ball and Canes fullback Andre Taylor was able to swoop, retrieve and kicked to safety. At that stage Kaino left the field and the curiosity was whether his departure would also kill off the Blues' hopes.
Blues
Tries: Alby Mathewson
Penalties: Lachie Munro 4
Hurricanes
Tries: Hosea Gear
Penalties: Aaron Cruden 2
Halftime: 9-3
