Centre Isaia Toeava had a hand in three tries as the first-place Auckland Blues moved nine points clear in Super 14 rugby with a 26-8 win over South Africa’s Cheetahs on Friday.
Toeava’s clean line breaks created tries for Steve Devine in the third minute, Doug Howlett in the 36th and Anthony Tuitavake in the 49th, helping the Blues to a win by three tries to one and their eighth win from nine games.
Toeava burst onto the ball in the third minute, shrugged off two tacklers, then managed to stand in a third tackle near the goalline. He then hurled an accurate infield pass to halfback Devine, who scored untouched.
Toeava handled only briefly in the move that led to Auckland’s second try, but his strength and ability to stand in a tackle helped create the space in which Howlett scored his 59th try in the competition and his sixth of the season.
A spectacular break in the 49th minute by Toeava and his flick infield to flanker Daniel Braid stretched the Cheetah’s defence and made a superb try for left winger Anthony Tuitavake. Braid began the move with a turnover, continued it from Toeava’s pass and sent Tuitavake away on his final dash to the line.
The match was fast and physical and Auckland was less dominant than its recent form suggested.
”It was full-on for 80 minutes,” said Blues captain Troy Flavell. ”You have to take hat off to the Cheetahs. It’s probably the hardest and most physical game we’ve had all season.”
Defence was the strongest aspect of the Cheetahs’ game as the South Africans denied Auckland a four-try bonus point despite the home side’s territorial dominance.
The Cheetahs were particularly adept at defending at rolling mauls and they contained Auckland’s dangerous backline for all but the few moments in which Toeava made his presence felt.
Discipline cost the Blues and they conceded 17 penalties, which might have been more costly had the Cheetahs not decided early on to forego kicks at goal.
Flyhalf Herkie Kruger landed his only penalty in the fifth minute and missed the conversion of Ryno van der Merwe’s 80th-minute try. – Sapa
Scores
Auckland: 26 (Steve Devine, Doug Howlett, Anthony Tuitavake tries; Isa Nacewa conversion, 3 penalties). Cheetahs: 8 (Ryno van der Merwe try; Herkie Kruger penalty). HT, 16-3.