Lions 14 Blues 56
The Blues added some late colour to a disappointing tour of South Africa this morning (NZT) with a 56-14 thrashing of the Lions, who set an unwanted Super 14 rugby record.
The Blues scored seven tries to two against the worst team in the competition, who could only respond with
two tries, both to former Blues star Carlos Spencer.
The two tries before halftime prompted a smile to some of his old teammates as the Lions closed to 24-14 at halftime but Spencer's men capitulated after the break to continue an embarrassing season.
Their 12th straight loss is a Super rugby record in any season, beating the 11 of the Bulls in 2002, while the Lions have now conceded more points - 526 - than any other team's campaign.
So the Blues only just passed the average score against them in front of a small crowd at Ellis Park.
First five-eighth Stephen Brett - who was under an injury cloud all week and learned of his inclusion just 20 minutes before kickoff - controlled the game throughout and kicked nine from 10 shots for a 26-point return that included a try.
The onslaught began with a simple try in the opening minutes to centre Rene Ranger after midfield partner Benson Stanley ghosted through a gap.
Brett and halfback Alby Mathewson ghosted over their other first half tries while the best of Spencer's two tries was the first, from a counterattack he launched inside the Lions 22m area.
Fullback Spencer's afternoon turned sour when South African referee Mark Lawrence sinbinned him for tripping Blues replacement Anthony Tuitavake, on for his first appearance for the season.
Included in the 32 unanswered points in the second spell were two tries to winger Joe Rokocoko and others to hooker Tom McCartney and winger Paul Williams.
Rokocoko's double took him to a competition-leading nine for the season, one clear of Bulls flyer Gerhard van den Heever.
Brett is now third on points 136 behind the Bulls' Morne Steyn (221) and Reds playmaker Quade Cooper (158).
Blues captain Jerome Kaino lamented losses to the Sharks and Cheetahs over the past two weeks to drop from contention and he hoped today gave them some momentum heading into their final-round match against the Chiefs in Auckland.
"Our focus was just to hold onto the ball, build some pressure and the holes will come. And at times they did," he said.
Blues 56 (Joe Rokocoko 2, Stephen Brett, Alby Mathewson, Tom McCartney, Rene Ranger, Paul Williams tries; Brett 3 pen, 6 con) Lions 14 (Carlos Spencer 2 tries; Herkie Kruger 2 con). Halftime: 24-14.
- NZPA
