Blues end Brumbies winning run

Blues 26 Brumbies 15

The Blues arrested their spiralling fortunes in the Super 14 rugby competition with a 26-15 win over the ACT Brumbies at Auckland's Eden Park tonight.

Fullback Isa Nacewa scored 16 points from a try, three penalties and a conversion, helping the homeside to just their second win in six games while ending the Brumbies' unbeaten run in the competition.

The Blues entered game with just four points and in 12th position in the 14-team competition, with their chances of a top-four finish looking extremely difficult.

They scored three tries to two in an scrappy, error-filled and stop-start game, though some of the tries scored were among the best seen in the competition this season.

Both teams turned over the ball on at least 27 occasions each, handling errors stood at 34 between the two sides and mistackles at about 26.

The Brumbies suffered much in the lineout in the first half and couldn't find a launching pad to start their quick recycling game.

They managed it twice to some significance in the second half and scored the first of their two tries from it.

The Blues' backline were often dangerous with ball in hand but errors curtailed their progress most of the time.

Nevertheless, Auckland captain Keven Mealamu was satisfied with the result, saying it hopefully laid a foundations from where they can relaunch their campaign in a quest for a playoff berth.

"We'll take the win anyway tonight and we're quite happy with it," he said.

Brumbies captain Stirling Mortlock said errors at the breakdown and contact area let his team down.

"We played pretty positive football for the first 20-25 minutes but unfortunately we didn't get any points for that. Then we made too many turnovers," he said.

"We knew they'd (Blues) be very hard tonight, basically with their backs to the wall and they played like it. We knew they would come out all guns blazing."

The Blues scored two tries through flanker Troy Flavell and centre Anthony Tuitavake, and fullback Isa Nacewa kicked two penalties and a conversion for their 18-0 halftime lead.

Tuitavake featured in three breakouts from deep in their own territory. He combined with winger Joe Rokocoko once to take play 70m only to be stopped close to the line by the cover defence.

However, that piece of play gave the Blues both momentum and field position and after three attempts from close range, Ali Williams took a clean lineout and Flavell was driven over in the 24th minute.

Nacewa missed the conversion but added a second penalty before first five-eighth Tasese Lavea stole the ball off Mortlock and handed it to Tuitavake for a powerful 35m run to the line. Nacewa converted it.

Nacewa kicked his third penalty two minutes after halftime to stretch the home team's lead to 21-0.

The Brumbies gained some compusure and finally started to recycle the ball. They advanced at least 40m but were stopped when Blues lock Greg Rawlinson smashed George Smith with a bone-shuddering tackle to dislodge the ball.

The momentum was not lost though, and after a scrum and a quick penalty taken by Jone Tawake, Rathbone rocketed through for their try in the 49th minute. Mortlock added the conversion.

The Blues scored the try of the game through Nacewa when the forwards rumbled about 30m following a lineout and the ball was moved to the backline.

Lavea lobbed a diagonal kick and Rokocoko took it, allowed Tuitavake to make 20m before the centre passed back infield for a speeding Nacewa to gather and score.

Mortlock kicked a penalty and a few minutes from the end the Brumbies scored a consolation try through replacement Joel Wilson.

Scores:

Blues 26 (Troy Flavell, Anthony Tuitavake, Isa Nacewa tries; Nacewa 3 pen, con).
Brumbies 15 (Clyde Rathbone, Joel Wilson tries; Stirling Mortlock pen, con).
HT: 18-0.

- NZPA