Blues winger Anthony Tuitavake is roped in by the Chiefs defence. Photo / Getty Images
The Blues will travel to South Africa with five Super 14 points in the bag after a 32-14 win over the Chiefs in their competition opener at Eden Park in Auckland tonight.
Down 11-8 at halftime, the Blues had too much gas for the Chiefs, running in three
second half tries, while the visitors could only manage a single Stephen Donald penalty.
Blues halfback Danny Lee opened the scoring in the fifth minute when he borrowed over from close range.
The Blues were gifted an attacking opportunity when Chiefs first five-eighth Donald dropped a pass in front of his posts and the Blues debutant took advantage a few phases later.
Two Donald penalties put the Chiefs in front after 15 minutes only for Nick Evans to reply 10 minutes later.
Then, in the final stages of the half, the Chiefs capitalised on a Donald break with fullback Mils Muliaina scoring in the corner to give the visitors a tree-point halftime lead.
The Blues began the second half much as they did the first with a try to skipper Troy Flavell.
After a frenetic period of play which saw the ball spend time at both ends of the field, Blues winger Joe Rokocoko made a clean break down the blindside. Although his intended pass for Flavell was knocked down by Muliaina, the big lock was still able to win the race for the ball to score.
Rokocoko got in on the scoring himself in the 61st minute when a solid Blues scrum on the Chiefs 22m gave their backs room to execute a superb set-play, with the All Blacks winger evading two tacklers to score under the posts.
Replacement back Ben Atiga secured the home side a bonus point when he followed up an Isa Nacewa break from another strong Blues scrum.
Blues 32 (Danny Lee, Troy Flavell, Joe Rokocoko, Ben Atiga tries; Nick Evans 2 pen, 3 con) Chiefs 14 (Mils Muliaina try; Stephen Donald 3 pen). Halftime: Chiefs 11-8.
- NZ HERALD STAFF
Photos: Super 14 kicks off