-
Blues player Rudi Wulf evades the tackle of Hurricanes Captain Victor Vito. - Source: Getty Images
The Blues have beaten the Hurricanes 36-22 in a Super Rugby preseason game in Whangarei today.
Other than the third quarter, the Blues dominated this game, which was the first hit out of the season for both sides.
The match was played over four quarters and in front of a healthy crowd of around 6,000.
It didn't take long for the scoring to get underway with Jerome Kaino, who was playing No 8 scoring a pushover try in the fifth minute, while 18 minutes later George Moala went for the Blues' second try as space was found by going left on attack, Michael Hobbs, missed the conversion but the Blues were able to hold a handy 12-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Daniel Kirkpatrick kicked a penalty for the visitors 10 minutes into the second quarter, but it was the Blues who scored next with Chris Lowrey intercepting an Andre Taylor pass to run in from 25m out.
The final try of the half came from Anthony Boric with the Blues benefiting from keeping the ball alive and continually probing the Hurricanes line from 5m out.
Replacement first-five Beauden Barrett goaled penalties galore over the third quarter as strangely for a preseason game, the Hurricanes chose to go for the three points each time they were awarded a penalty in kickable range.
With five minutes in the third quarter left, the Hurricanes showed they can score points by other means with wing Julian Savea finishing off a break with a 20m run.
The only points of the final quarter came from tries Sherwin Stowers and Dan Prior, completing the six tries to one win.
Blues 36: (Jerome Kaino, George Moala, Chris Lowrey, Anthony Boric, Sherwin Stowers, Dan Prior tries; Michael Hobbs 3 cons).
Hurricanes 22: (Julian Savea try; Daniel Kirkpatrick pen, Beauden Barrett 4 pens, con).
HT: 26-3.
