Blues finish with a flourish

LAST week their timing sucked. This week it was sublime as the Blues snapped their three-game Super Rugby losing skid in the most glorious of style.

After being deadlocked 7-7 at halftime against a resolute Bulls side, the Blues exploded for five second-half tries to ease to a decisive 38-14 victory at QBE Stadium in Albany last night. It was stirring stuff as they unleashed that attacking firepower they had shown fleetingly in the previous round.

With six tries to two, Tana Umaga’s men bank a muchneeded bonus point victory. More importantly, they made the necessary improvements to go the full 80 this week and do the damage when it really mattered

At 7-7 the match was delicately poised at the Break. But as Matt Duffie (twice), Ihaia West, Matt Moulds and Melani Nanai all crossed the line over the second 40 this was the BLues well and truly back in the race.

The victory was the Blues’ 11th in 12 home game against the men from Pretoria who, frankly, travel about as well as Guinness. They have now dropped 10 of their last 11 matches in New Zealand, and have started the new season by losing all three road games en route to a 1-3 start.

Umaga will be rapt his team has snapped that three-game losing skid and doubled its win tally for the year. The Blues improve to 11 points with a 2-3 record, and remain fourth in the ultra-competitive Kiwi conference.

The home side had burst out of the blocks in Christchurch a week ago to lead 21-5 by halftime.

This week there was a more meandering start, with a try apiece seeing honours even at 7-7 at the break.

The home side started promisingly, with livewire halfback Augustine Pulu dashing away for this third try of the season after some crisp work down the left touchline from Michael Collins and Nanai carved the opening.

But if the home faithful in Albany had sensed the floodgates opening, they were to be disappointed as the Blues could not add to the tally for the remaining 37 minutes.

They had their chances, with much the better of the field position for the half but thereafter either the visitors’ staunch defensive line held firm, or the