Rugby: Blues romp to victory over toothless Cheetahs

The Blues picked up their third win with a convincing 34 point victory of the Cheetahs at North Harbour Stadium, Auckland. Photo / Getty Images.

The Blues notched their third win of the Super 14 rugby season, trouncing a toothless Cheetahs 46-12 in Auckland.

It was the 1000th Super rugby match since the competition began in 1996 but the Cheetahs, lacking cohesion and imagination, were not the best side to contribute to such a celebration as they lost by six tries to two.

The match itself descended into a farce once the Cheetahs lost their whole starting front row to injury in the course of the match.

The scrums were declared un-contested for safety reasons from within the first 10 minutes of the second half.

The Blues, who play the Chiefs in the next round, will take little as a team out of this contest, but will be delighted with a number of sparkling individual performances.

Ali Williams, playing his first match for the Blues since 2007, had an inspirational game in the lineouts, dominating his takes and disrupting the oppositions in concert with Kurtis Haiu.

Michael Hobbs at second five-eighth showed some good touches with the ball as did wing Rene Ranger who shaded All Black wing Joe Rokocoko who had a quiet game by his standards.

Halfback Taniela Moa was a powerful force from the base of the scrum and worked well with Jimmy Gopperth to run the show while Anthony Tuitavake put in a power of work.

Leading 7-0 to a Tuitavake try after Moa and blindside flanker Chris Lowery combined to slice the Cheetah's blindside defence open, the Blues took advantage of a 14-man opposition to rack up another 10 points after flanker Wayne van Heerden was sinbinned for a spoiling early tackle.

A converted try to Lowery following a Gopperth penalty put the Blues out to 17-0 before van Heerden returned.

The Cheetahs replied with an opportunistic try through centre Corne Uys who slid across the line after being ankle tapped by Justin Collins but Gopperth nailed a long range penalty on the stroke of halftime to give the Blues a 20-7 lead,

Two tries in quick succession after the breather to fullback Isaia Toeava who had a powerful game followed by the bonus-pointer by Moa sealed the result for the Blues.

Jamie Helleur and Chris Smylie came on as substitutes and scored the Blues other two tries.

The Cheetahs, who next play the Highlanders, scored a consolation unconverted try to substitute Kabamba Floors on the final hooter - but are still looking for their first away win in Super rugby history.

Blues flanker Collins's 100th Super rugby game was marked by the presentation of commemorative greenstone mere to mark his personal milestone.

- NZPA