Blues go down in thriller

The Bulls scored a five tries to three win over the Blues in a Super 12 rugby match in Pretoria this morning (NZT) but were made to work hard for their fourth consecutive victory.


The Blues battled valiantly to match a bigger Bulls pack that was well marshalled by skipper Anton Leonard, but were forced to concede the advantage in set pieces.


The Blues' plan to move the ball wide paid off in just the 7th minute, stunning the over 45,000 crowd at Loftus Stadium.


Wings Joe Rocokoko and Doug Howlett made searing darts in the midfield before the ball found prop John Afoa inside the 22.


Afoa showed stunning speed in his charge to the line and deftly off-loaded in the tackle for fullback Isa Nacewa to score the try.


First five-eighth Luke McAlister made the conversion.


Two quick tries by Bulls left winger Bryan Habana in the 13th and 15th minutes, gave the hosts the lead.


Habana's tries were gems, the first finishing off a move sparked by a powerful burst down the centre by centre J P Nel, the second, the try of the tournament so far, bettering last weekend's effort by the Hurricanes' Ma'a Nonu.


Habana fielded the ball from the Blues' kickoff on his 22m line and evaded Howlett's tackle before setting off down the tramlines, beating centre Mils Muliaina and halfback Steve Devine before chipping over Nacewa.


The bounce was kind and Habana re-gathered to finish off in the same spot he scored earlier.


The Blues' reply came through Howlett, who showed his pace as he swerved past three defenders to the goal line.


But if the Blues thought they had the speed out wide, the Bulls were a match for them defensively with midfielders Nel and second five-eighth Etienne Botha prominent in stopping any flow across the advantage line.


As the Blues struggled to knit phases together, the Bulls pack grew in prominence and in a sustained assault from a line-out, Etienne Botha finally squeezed his way through a packed Blues defence in the 28th minute.


First five-eighth Mornay Steyn converted for a 19-14 lead that lasted until halftime.


McAlister banged over a penalty to take the Blues within two points after the resumption only for Steyn to kick two quick penalties in reply.


A converted try by Muliana took the visitors to within a point 24-25 but that was as close as they got as they wilted in the high altitude.


Etienne Botha got his second try, awarded by the video referee despite what looked like a double movement, which was followed by a penalty by Steyn after Blues skipper Xavier Rush was caught off side having a swipe at the ball that popped out of a ruck in front of the posts.


Right wing Akona Ngdungane sealed the deal for the Bulls with the final try of the match.


Rush praised the Bulls for getting some good rolls on.


"They played very well, they had some good rolls on, the crowd got behind them and they were hard to stop," Rush said.


"We knew they would like to play a close game and we sort of backed ourselves that way but the Bulls were up to it and their wide defence was pretty good."


The Blues' next match will be at home against the Hurricanes at Eden Park on Friday.


Scores: Bulls 38 (Bryan Habana (2), Etienne Botha (2), Akona Ngdungane tries; Morne Steyn 3 pen 2 con)


Blues 24 (Isa Nacewa, Doug Howlett, Mils Muliaina tries; Luke McAlister 1 pen, 3 con). Halftime 19-14.


- NZPA