SYDNEY - New South Wales captain Matthew Burke racked up 25 points as the Waratahs cemented their place in the Super 12 top four with a 35-19 over the Blues last night.
The Waratahs are the only Australian team never to have reached the playoffs and the win was their first over the Blues.
The victory strengthens the Sydney-based side's hold on fourth position in the Super 12 standings at the halfway stage.
The Waratahs were outscored three tries to two but dominated the match in every other facet and thoroughly deserved their win, which lifted them six points clear of fifth-placed Chiefs, and relegated the Blues to ninth spot.
Hooker Brendan Cannon and centre Nathan Grey scored tries for the Waratahs, while Burke chipped in with seven penalties and two conversions.
Wingers Doug Howlett and Joeli Vidiri and scrumhalf Mark Robinson scored tries for the Blues, while first five-eighths Carlos Spencer landed two conversions.
The Waratahs took the lead with a penalty in the third minute and were never headed although the Blues pulled back from 23-5 to trail 26-19 with 18 minutes to go.
They looked certain to level the scores 15 minutes from the end when they spun the ball left with a four-man overlap until NSW prop Matt Dunning intercepted a wild cut-out pass from Spencer to end the movement.
The Waratahs then added another three penalties in the final 10 minutes to maintain their unbeaten home record this year and secure their first win over the Blues in six years of Super 12.
The Waratahs face the Highlanders in Dunedin next Saturday while the Blues take on the Sharks at Eden Park.
- REUTERS
2001 Super 12 schedule/results
New Zealand's Super 12 squads
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