Brilliant Blues too good for Highlanders

The Highlanders setpiece fell apart in the second stanza, making way for a Blues blitz on a beautiful evening at North Harbour Stadium in Albany.

Blues winger Caleb Clarke butchered an early opportunity, who spilt the ball on the line while carrying it in one hand and fending off a relentless Aaron Smith. Nonetheless, they were under advantage and Stephen Perofeta - starting at flyhalf after a late withdrawal from Beauden Barrett due to a Covid-19 case - opened the scoring from in front of the poles.

After a frenetic few minutes, the Highlanders earned a penalty at ruck time and Mitch Hunt stepped up to slot a great kick from 45 out to level the scores.

Minutes later, Highlander Thomas Umaga-Jensen made a strong run and brilliant offload to centre partner Scott Gregory, who took the ball to within 10m of the line. After the Blues transgressed and the attack faded, Hunt chipped over another penalty to make the score 6-3 after 24 minutes.

The Highlanders finally got some reward for field position, dealing a double blow to the Blues. Hooker Liam Coltman secured the ball at the back of the lineout maul and they marched forward until the maul collapsed on the try line. Referee Ben O'Keefe didn't hesitate to award a penalty try and show Luke Romano a yellow card for collapsing the maul.

The Blues were a man down and under pressure on their own line with seconds to play in the opening half, but managed to get out of jail and even counter-attack via scrumhalf Finlay Christie, who chipped ahead for Umaga-Jensen, who gathered and earned a late penalty. The Blues opted for touch but their lineout drive was snuffed, cueing halftime with the Highlanders 13-3 ahead.

The Blues started the second stanza with vigour, as Taine Plumtree tapped