Hat-trick wing in star turn for Blues At a glance
A stunning hat-trick from rookie wing Mark Telea earned the Blues a much-needed bonus point Super Rugby victory over the Waratahs in Newcastle last night.
As a response to last week’s season-opening home loss to the Chiefs, the 32-12 result was just what the doctor ordered for Leon MacDonald’s side.
It was a far from free-flowing performance from the Kiwi outfit in tricky, slippery conditions at McDonald Jones Stadium, but they collected five points in a five tries to two victory.
The visitors did not do it easily, leading just 8-7 after a turgid first half, but coasted to the win when Telea completed an outstanding match with two runaway tries in the last three minutes to seal the deal.
The North Harbour wing was very much the star of the show for the Blues in just his second appearance for the franchise.
The Blues got another strong game out of No 8 Hoskins Sotutu before he was sinbinned for a high hit in the second half and
Blues 32
(Blake Gibson, Joe Marchant, Mark Telea 3 tries; Stephen Perofeta pen, con; Harry Plummer con),
(Lalakai Foketi, Mark Nawaqanitawase tries; Will Harrison con). Ht: 8-7.
Waratahs 12
they once again scrummed well.
A messy first half in slippery conditions in Newcastle finished at a try apiece and with the New Zealanders with their noses in front by just the one point.
Neither team set the world on fire in a pretty ordinary first 40, with Blake Gibson’s 11th-minute try for the visitors answered by Lalakai Foketi’s comfortable finish of a 16-phase buildup for the home side.
The Blues had few moments of sustained quality in the first half, but did manage to put Gibson in a one on one with Mark Nawaqanitawase wide on the right on the back of a nice run from Sotutu to score the opening try.
The ’Tahs gradually worked their way into the match over the back end of the half and their answering try was a fair reward for some good work from the forwards.
The Kiwi side, though, came out in the second half not only with veteran James Parsons instilled at hooker but with a renewed purpose, with two quick tries to rookie backs having them out by the more comfortable margin of 20-7.
English recruit Joe Marchant had the first just a couple of minutes in when he ran a nice straight line off TJ Faiane and did the rest with some slick footwork, while Telea opened his account for the franchise with the easiest of tries off a nice piece of vision and grubber-kick execution from Sotutu.
Of course, this being the Blues nothing was achieved with comfort. Soon after Sotutu’s sinbinning Nawaqanitawase was over with an acrobatic finish in the corner to get the ’Tahs back within eight, at 20-12.
This time the Blues steadied, and Telea stunned the home crowd with two audacious finishes.
It’s too early to say the Blues are back in any fashion. But they’re certainly on the board for 2020.