July 7 (Reuters) – The Blues unleashed a three-try burst in
the second half to beat an injury-ravaged Western Force 32-9 at
Eden Park on Saturday and boost their hopes of avoiding Super
Rugby’s wooden spoon.
Flanker Steven Luatua scored a try in the first half and
Charles Piutau, Ma’a Nonu and Luke Braid all crossed in quick
succession in the second to secure the Blues their third win in
the penultimate round of a dismal season.
The Blues’ bonus-point victory from scoring four tries
lifted them a point above Perth-based Force into third from the
bottom of the standings.
Johannesburg-based Lions sit bottom of the southern
hemisphere’s provincial championship, seven points behind the
Force with two matches to play.
The Blues took a 13-9 lead at the end of an uninspiring
first half littered with handling errors and befitting of the
teams’ lowly standing.
The Blues had the edge in territory and Ma’a Nonu raised a
brief burst of enthusiasm from the sparse crowd by driving
toward the line in the 28th minute but was denied a try by
video review.
Luatua burrowed over the line near the right-hand corner
moments later, however, to put the Blues up 8-6 against the
Force who lacked captain David Pocock and veteran lock Nathan
Sharpe due to injury.
Blues fullback Piutau broke open the game 15 minutes after
the break, touching down at the right corner again after taking
a long pass from Nonu.
Nonu helped himself to his 100th first class try minutes
later, cantering 10 metres to the line, with an off-load from
substitute Peter Saili cutting the Force defence to ribbons.
Number eight Luke Braid joined the party with a fourth try
10 minutes from the whistle.
Force flyhalf Ben Seymour slotted three penalties in the
first half to score all of his side’s points as the visitors
were kept scoreless for the last 45 minutes and slumped to their
12th loss of the season.
(Reporting by Ian Ransom in Melbourne; Editing by Amlan
Chakraborty)
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