BLUES BROTHERS
Players unite to put tough times behind them
For the Blues, this week was much tougher than most. Returning from Argentina still without a win, before they could think about running out against the Sunwolves, they first farewelled prop Mike Tamoaieta at a memorial service.
With emotions riding high following his sudden death, it was fitting the side met the Sunwolves at North Harbour’s QBE Stadium, where Tamoaieta played his Mitre 10 Cup rugby.
It looked as though their tough times weren’t quite over as play got under way but the hosts roared into action to secure a 28-20 win — with Tamoaieta’s No 276 emblazoned on their jerseys.
The Blues were tested by a Sunwolves side buoyed by their first ever away win last time out, but four tries from Rieko Ioane saw the hosts home.
After a video montage and moment of silence was observed in a tribute to Tamoaieta, the Sunwolves started with more enthusiasm.
Much as they did against the Chiefs a week earlier, the Sunwolves got their teeth into the Blues in the opening minutes, with No 10 Rikiya Matsuda opening the scoring from the tee inside five minutes.
Penalties were a common feature of the opening 40 minutes. After Matsuda kicked his side six points ahead moments later, Blues counterpart Harry Plummer got the hosts on the board after 15 minutes.
It was a case of live by the offload, die by the offload for the Blues in the first half, with first-time captain Sonny Bill Williams involved heavily.
And while there were times they forced passes that weren’t on, a James Parsons offload led to Ioane crossing in the corner.
The try was the first the Blues had scored in the first half of a game this season and gave them a slim but brief lead. Matsuda responded but Ioane scored his second to see the Blues 15-13 up at the break.
While they started sluggishly, the Blues improved over the course of the match. Ioane found himself across the stripe twice during the third quarter to push the Blues lead out to 12.
Needing to be the next to score, the Sunwolves struck through Uwe Helu who dived over from close range. But a late penalty from the boot of Otere Black pushed the margin from five points to eight, stretching it out further than a converted try and sealing the match for the Blues.
Blues 28 (R. Ioane 4 tries; H. Plummer con, pen, O. Black pen) Sunwolves 20 (R. Matsuda, U. Helu tries; Matsuda 2 cons, 2 pens). Halftime: 15-13.