Rugby: Blues start their season with victory

Chris Smylie looks to get the Blues moving at Balclutha on Saturday. Photo / Getty Images

As far as openers go, this one would get the pass mark for both teams with a "plenty to work on" line featuring prominently.

The Blues beat the Highlanders 31-29 in Balclutha on Saturday afternoon, seeing off a spirited challenge by the southern side, and securing victory only in the final minutes.

Blues replacement hooker Ash Dixon went over for the winning try after the Highlanders ran out of defenders at the end of a long period of play where the ball changed sides four times.

A draw probably would have been a fairer result as there was nothing in this pre-season clash, watched by a crowd of about 3000.

The Highlanders, with most of their more experienced players on the field, dominated the first 40 minutes, while the Blues came back into the match in the second half.

The Highlanders led 15-10 at the break, but making 10 changes after halftime, they lost continuity and experience on the park.

The Blues scored first in the second half to take the lead through replacement winger Nafi Tuitavake. But prop Bronson Murray got the home side back in front and then nippy halfback Aaron Smith dived over Toby Morland to score when the Blues lost the ball at the back of a scrum on their line.

It looked a win for the home side until the Blues came back to steal it at the death.

Best for the Blues were No8 Chris Lowery and prop Tevita Mailau.

There was concern about the Highlanders' first five-eighth Colin Slade, who left the field halfway through the first half after taking a blow to the jaw when trying to tackle Blues second five-eighth Luke McAllister.

Slade looked in some pain and coach Jamie Joseph said they would have to wait and see how bad the problem was, but that jaw injury was not new for Slade.

"He has been troubled by it last year but we thought it was coming right," Joseph said. "The one good thing was that he played on for a while afterwards."

- OTAGO DAILY TIMES