The Blues scored four tries as they secured an unconvincing 24-15 win over the Force in Auckland on Saturday. CRAIG LEWIS reports.
This wasn't pretty from the Blues, but in the end an improved second-half performance enabled them to come away with a positive result, while clinching their eighth successive win over the Force.
Nevertheless, the Blues will want to wipe particularly the first half of an hour of this contest from their memory. Basic errors and poor handling blighted their performance and prevented the hosts from establishing any rhythm to their play.
To add to their woes, an early penalty and then a try to lock Richie Arnold sent the visitors into a handy 8-0 lead early on, but the decisive moment of the opening stanza came when Force No 8 Isi Naisarani was sent to the sin bin just before the half-hour mark.
During this time, with a one-man advantage, the Blues finally strung a couple of effective phases of attack together, with Akira Ioane and Matt Duffie going over to score well-worked tries.
It was enough to afford the Blues a rather fortunate four-point lead at the break, and while they looked to have extended that advantage when TJ Faiane darted over to dot down soon after the restart, the try was ruled out due to a knock-on in the build-up.
That added to the frustration of the Blues as the Force continued to display plenty of courage and endeavour, while the hosts squandered a number of opportunities with poor option-taking.
However, the Blues finally found the attacking spark that had been sorely missing all during the match as replacement Rieko Ioane created and completed an 80m breakout try that finally helped open up an 11-point buffer, while fullback Michael Collins finished off a fourth try soon after.
That score looked to have secured the bonus point, but against the run of play, impressive Force fullback Dane Haylett-Petty completed a breakaway try to ensure the visitors would have the final say in the game.
Blues – Tries: Akira Ioane, Matt Duffie, Rieko Ioane, Michael Collins. Conversions: Piers Francis (2).
Force – Tries: Richie Arnold, Dane Haylett-Petty. Conversion: Ian Prior. Penalty: Jono Lance.
Blues – 15 Michael Collins, 14 Matt Duffie, 13 George Moala, 12 TJ Faiane, 11 Melani Nanai, 10 Piers Francis, 9 Augustine Pulu, 8 Jerome Kaino, 7 Murphy Taramai, 6 Jimmy Tupou, 5 Patrick Tuipulotu, 4 Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, 3 Charlie Faumuina, 2 James Parsons, 1 Pauliasi Manu.
Subs: 16 Matt Moulds, 17 Ofa Tu'ungafasi/Sam Prattley, 18 Sione Mafileo, 19 Scott Scrafton, 20 Akira Ioane, 21 Billy Guyton, 22 Ihaia West, 23 Rieko Ioane.
Force – 15 Dane Haylett-Petty, 14 Chance Peni, 13 Marcel Brache, 12 Billy Meakes, 11 Alex Newsome, 10 Jono Lance, 9 Ryan Louwrens, 8 Isi Naisarani, 7 Matt Hodgson, 6 Ross Haylett-Petty, 5 Richie Arnold, 4 Matt Philip, 3 Tetera Faulkner, 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1 Ben Daley.
Subs: 16 Anaru Rangi, 17 Pek Cowan, 18 Shambeckler Vui, 19 Richard Hardwick, 20 Kane Koteka, 21 Michael Ruru, 22 Ian Prior, 23 Robbie Coleman.
Photo: Phil Walter/Getty Images
