{"id":9667,"date":"2012-04-05T15:51:48","date_gmt":"2012-04-05T13:51:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/04\/rugby-oconnor-drives-passionate-rebels-past-blues\/"},"modified":"2012-04-05T15:51:48","modified_gmt":"2012-04-05T13:51:48","slug":"rugby-oconnor-drives-passionate-rebels-past-blues","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/rugby-oconnor-drives-passionate-rebels-past-blues\/","title":{"rendered":"Rugby-O&#8217;Connor drives passionate Rebels past Blues"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>\t\t<span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"articleLocation\">April 5<\/span> (Reuters) &#8211; Wallaby back James O&#8217;Connor scored a try<br \/>\nand kicked 19 points to help the Melbourne Rebels upset the<br \/>\nAuckland Blues 34-23 for only their second Super Rugby victory<br \/>\nof the season on Friday.<span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><\/span><\/p>\n<p>His fellow international Kurtley Beale chipped in with a<br \/>\nfirst-half interception try and Gareth Delve also touched down.<\/p>\n<p><span><\/span><\/p>\n<p>However, it was a passionate performance from the entire<br \/>\nRebels team that enabled the team who finished bottom last year<br \/>\nto edge the three-times champions.<\/p>\n<p><span><\/span><\/p>\n<p>The Rebels folded after going behind early in the second<br \/>\nhalf against the Otago Highlanders last week but on Thursday<br \/>\nshowed great character to battle back into the lead &#8211; even if<br \/>\nskipper Delve&#8217;s last-minute try inflated the scoreline.<\/p>\n<p><span><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&#8220;It was another real nailbiter, a bit closer than we&#8217;d have<br \/>\nliked,&#8221; the Welsh number eight said in a pitchside interview.<\/p>\n<p><span><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&#8220;We&#8217;re still a young team and looking to develop and that<br \/>\nwas another big step forward. The way we stuck together shows<br \/>\nhow we&#8217;re coming together as a side.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><span><\/span><\/p>\n<p>Tries from fullback Rudi Wulf and flanker Chris Lowrey three<br \/>\nminutes from time could not save the Blues from a fifth defeat<br \/>\nin six matches this year and they will remain rooted to the<br \/>\nbottom of the competitive New Zealand conference.<\/p>\n<p><span><\/span><\/p>\n<p>With the teams having just two wins between them a third of<br \/>\nthe way through the season, it was never likely to be a classic<br \/>\nencounter and there were plenty of errors on both sides<br \/>\nthroughout the evening.<\/p>\n<p><span><\/span><\/p>\n<p>The first of any significance was the attempt of Blues<br \/>\nnumber eight Brad Mika to force a pass out wide in the 11th<br \/>\nminute and he paid a heavy price when Beale moved up to snatch<br \/>\nthe ball before racing the length of the pitch to score.<br \/>\n\u00a0 <span class=\"label\"><strong>Continued&#8230;<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>April 5 (Reuters) &#8211; Wallaby back James O&#8217;Connor scored a try and kicked 19 points to help the Melbourne Rebels upset the Auckland Blues 34-23 for only their second Super Rugby victory of the season on Friday. His fellow international Kurtley Beale chipped in with a first-half interception try and Gareth Delve also touched down. 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