Blues lose proud Super 12 record

Tana Umaga can't stop grinning as he is subbed off during the Hurricanes - Blues match at Eden Park last night. Picture / Fotopress

Hurricanes 22 Blues 10

The Hurricanes' gruesome sequence against the Blues ended last night as they celebrated captain Tana Umaga's milestone with a march into this year's playoffs.

For a decade the Hurricanes have stewed over their inability to beat the Blues, but they finally broke the bogey at the most appropriate time - Umaga's 100th Super 12 match.

The Eden Park match was a game too far for the injured and weary Blues. Bereft of patience and pizazz, they could not take advantage of their set-piece superiority; they did not trust their driving play.

They had their chances, a number of them, but lacked the bite, nous and composure to convert them, and will now have to rely on other results to make the semis.

The Hurricanes, a side renowned for their flair and enterprise, held tough for the opening spell and then hit the Blues with several hammer blows as the home side lost Craig McGrath, Daniel Braid and Tasesa Lavea to injury after the break.

Flanker Ben Herring was the initial beneficiary when the Blues' defence got into a muddle from his kick ahead. Lome Fa'atau got the next from a 70m breakout before Ross Kennedy surged over after another long foray from Piri Weepu and Conrad Smith.

Fa'atau's try was a huge turning point. The Blues curiously tapped a penalty, turned the ball over and the wing and Umaga combined to outflank the retreating defenders.

A penalty each was scant reward for the first-half endeavour, but the Hurricanes would have been delighted with the stalemate.

They had made an occasional foray into Blues territory, but they were in defensive mode for much of the opening 40 minutes.

And they should have conceded at least several tries had the Blues made decent use of their possession and the breaks they made.

The hosts fluffed five scoring chances either through bad decisions, poor execution or some tenacious Hurricanes' defence.

Joe Rokocoko was put into space early, but a diving Shannon Paku ankle-tapped the wing to save a try. The speedster should have been in a minute later, but Luke McAlister failed to give him the pass.

Lavea then broke the line with a slanting run and stabbed a kick for Doug Howlett's wing instead of carrying the attack forward with the visitors' defence in disarray.

They were escapes the Hurricanes appreciated, with a penalty goal to McAlister the only concession they made.

Jimmy Gopperth and Conrad Smith scampered into Blues territory on a couple of likely breakouts which died through lack of support.

But those moments would have gnawed at the Blues' confidence which was further undermined when fullback Mils Muliaina retired with a shoulder injury and hooker Keven Mealamu went to the bloodbin for some facial stitches.

His lineout throwing was missed.