Blues consign luckless Highlanders to another defeat

The Blues handed the struggling Highlanders their fifth Super Rugby Pacific defeat in a row with a 32-25 victory in Dunedin.

It was a deserved win for the visitors from Auckland, who outscored their opponents four tries to three and managed to fend off a late Highlanders fightback to secure all the points.

The Highlanders kept themselves in the match until the very end but never managed to get within more than seven points of their opponents.

Beauden Barrett kicked an early penalty to put the Blues in front before Mitch Hunt missed an opportunity to level the scores shortly after.

The Blues' opening try arrived on 10 minutes after Rieko Ioane won a turnover at the breakdown, and the ball was quickly shifted out wide to Caleb Clarke, who beat both Hunt and Sam Gilbert before scoring under the sticks.

A breakdown infringement from the Blues finally handed the Highlanders their first points midway through the half, although Barrett soon returned the favour to restore his side's 10-point lead.

After the half-hour mark, Hunt slotted another penalty kick to keep the Highlanders within touching distance, but the Blues would have the final say in the first half with their second try.

Aaron Smith did good work at the scrum to apply pressure on Hoskins Sotutu and make him drop the ball, Blues scrumhalf Sam Nock was able to regather and find Barrett, who produced a silky run to beat two defenders and score.

Barrett missed the conversion as it finished 18-6 to the Blues at half-time.

The Highlanders hit back with their opening try via fullback Sam Gilbert after the second-half whistle sounded, taking a driving maul close to the line.

The ball was spread to the left and then right again, where Gilbert was able to cross over after the