Match Details

Blues (NZ)

VS

Reds

38

Auckland Kick off times: 7:35pm (Local) Sat 24 Feb 5:35pm (AEDT) Sat 24 Feb

13

The Blues have turned on a second-half spectacle to totally outclass the Reds 38-13 in a bruising round-four Investec Super 14 clash at Eden Park in Auckland.

Squaring off before a crowd of 18,500, it was the hosts who scored the only try of an intense first half, notable for yet another high penalty count, to take a 13-6 lead into the break.

After trading early penalties, the Reds dominated up front for most of the opening 40 minutes and Clinton Shifcofske, although not turning on his best performance with the boot, extended his side's lead by three late in the half.

But just as things looked to have swung in the visitors' favour, a late try to Rudi Wulf, backed up by a penalty goal to Luke McAlister, ensured the Blues boasted a halftime lead.

Then, in stark contrast to the first half, it was the Blues who dominated in both possession and territory in the second 40 minutes as they piled on three tries to one to seize control of the match and secure the five competition points.

Scarcely a minute into the match, the Blues drew first blood courtesy of an Isa Nacewa penalty goal after Reds prop Ben Coutts was penalised for a high tackle on the home side's playmaker.

But after such a promising start, the next passage of play belonged to the Reds as the visiting forwards mounted a bruising crusade into enemy territory.

Forced to defend strongly against a rampant Reds forward pack for close to 10 minutes, a ruck infringement from the Blues eventually allowed visiting fullback Clinton Shifcofske a chance to level the score.

However, confronted by a stiff Auckland breeze, the rugby league convert sent his first attempt wayward.

Then, 15 minutes into the match, the Blues had their best chance to cross the chalk after an electric run by speedy utility back Anthony Tuitavake but some poor ball handling within inches of the line proved costly. Adding to the hosts' disappointment, Tuitavake was subsequently forced from the ground after straining his hamstring during the play.

With little time to reflect on a potentially devastating injury, moments later Nacewa, kicking from close to the sideline, had the chance to extend his side's lead out to six on the back of a Reds ruck infringement, but, like Shifcofske's previous attempt, the breeze sent the ball wide.

Seven minutes later and in almost the same spot as his early shot at goal, the Reds fullback squared proceedings with a well-struck shot after Blues prop Saimone Taumoepeau entered the ruck from the side.

Despite having struck only one penalty from three attempts through the opening 30 minutes, Shifcofske, courtesy of yet another Blues infringement, put his side in front for the first time with 10 minutes left in the half.

But less then a minute later, the hosts wrestled control of the contest on the back of a sizzling play from the kick-off. After kicking the ball only 10m from the restart, big skipper Troy Flavell retrieved the ball, charged forward and sent a pass wide as Wulf, on as a replacement for Tuitavake, dived over out wide to finish the move.

To make matters worse for the visitors, second five-eighths McAlister, taking a long-range penalty shot not long after, landed the kick to extend his side's lead to seven going into the break.

In much the same fashion as the first half, it was the Blues who scored early in the second as McAlister, again kicking from almost 50m out, slotted over another textbook penalty.

Then, two minutes later, the hosts extended their lead when Nacewa charged over out wide on the back of a blistering run from Isaia Toeava. In another play mounted just after the restart, Wulf caught the Reds napping and made the initial break before passing to the All Black centre, who bolted down the field to set up a brilliant try.

Continuing the onslaught with 29 minutes remaining in the second half, McAlister extended his side's lead to 18-points through another penalty courtesy of some more sloppy play from the visitors.

With the Blues in full force and well ahead, the Reds devastatingly then had their chances of mounting a comeback all but crushed with 15 minutes left on the clock after David Croft was given a yellow card for repeated infringements.

Then, in the worst possible case for the visitors, Wulf, capitalising on the undermanned Reds, eased through a gap no more than 20 seconds later to dot down for his second try.

But against the run of play and with nothing but pride left to play for after being dominated in the second half, Reds reserve Charlie Fetoai intercepted a lazy pass to easily canter over the line and restore some moderate respectability to the scoreline with little time left on the clock.

Desperate for a bonus-point try and attacking deep inside the Reds' territory, the Blues, though, delighted their fans three minutes from fulltime when towering loose forward Jerome Kaino muscled over to seal the result and the bonus-point.

Blues 38

Tries: Rudi Wulf 2, Jerome Kaino, Isa Nacewa

Conversions: Nacewa 2, Luke McAlister 1

Penalties: McAlister 3, Nacewa  1

Reds 13

Tries: Charlie Fetoai

Conversions: Clinton Shifcofske

Penalties: Shifcofske 2

HT: 13-6