The Auckland Blues extended their lead at the top of the Super 14 standings to five points with a 28-9 win over the Otago Highlanders at Eden Park on Friday.
The Blues scored three unanswered tries in the second half to run away with the match after Otago had led 6-3 at the break and held their advantage until the final 20 minutes.
Outside centre Isaia Toeava scored two tries for Auckland while captain Troy Flavell crossed once and Luke McAlister kicked three penalties and two conversions.
”We just hung in there,” McAlister said in a televised interview.
”We knew we had them on the ropes but we just had to play some structured rugby.”
Auckland dominated territory and possession but Otago defended strongly and kept in touch through the boot of flyhalf Nick Evans, who landed three penalties in his first match this season.
”We’re obviously disappointed. We were in that game up until half-time but gave away a couple of soft tries,” Evans said.
”But to their credit, the Blues just kept coming at us and we just ran out of puff in the end.”
Toeava scored his first try out wide two minutes into the second half but Otago immediately regained the lead when Evans kicked his third penalty.
McAlister replied with two penalties of his own to give Auckland the lead before the Blues seized control of the match when Toeava scored his second try 15 minutes from the end before Flavell combined with Jerome Kaino to score.
The Blues’ win puts them five points clear of the Hurricanes, who play the Stormers this weekend. — Reuters