An outstanding contest that was a virtual Super 14 quarter-final was played out before the Blues took a thrilling 19-17 win over the Hurricanes at Eden Park on Friday night - a result that ensured a nervous semi-final wait for both sides depending on other games.
Some outstanding defence met continuing determined attack from both sides, especially during an exciting second half that yielded only one penalty goal - the winning kick as it proved to be from Blues fullback Nick Evans.
The atmosphere was electric in front of a near capacity house. It was cut and thrust especially during the second half.
Television ruled out two prospective tries for the Blues when they were a point behind just after the half-time break while Hurricanes first five-eighths Willie Ripia attempted three dropped goals in the last five minutes but each missed.
The game was played in perfect conditions, cool but crisp with no wind and in front of a crowd of 37,352.
It was out of the mists of nowhere that right wing Hosea Gear scored the opening try. The Hurricanes had been moving the ball across field, but was dropped back and Gear had to come back infield to pick up the ball.
He then ran across field past player after player and then in centre field the gap opened up and he strolled 35m for the simplest of tries beside the posts.
Then the Blues restart failed to go 10m and halfback Piri Weepu kicked towards the corner where Blues fullback Nick Evans, who had landed a penalty goal six minutes into the game, had his clearing kick charged down.
Gear couldn't believe his luck as he got a favourable bounce and scored his second try within two minutes. Weepu added his second conversion just as 20 minutes were posted.
The Blues response was instantaneous as lock Anthony Boric, one of the outstanding Blues contributors over the season, finished off some driving play which saw hooker Keven Mealamu and centre Anthony Tuitavake making good ground before Boric was fed the ball to plough over.
After several times speaking to Blues No.8 Nick Williams for not rolling clear at the tackle, referee Bryce Lawrence sin-binned him for a repeat offence after 30 minutes.
The Blues came back and as wing David Smith kicked ahead he was impeded by fullback Tamati Ellison and wing Zac Guildford who looked to grab at Smith. But after discussion with the assistant referee, Lawrence sin-binned Ellison.
Weepu and Evans exchanged penalty goals from the two incidents.
While Williams returned after the break, the Hurricanes almost paid dearly when a kick to Guildford who was patrolling Ellison's vacant position, resulted in a poor clearance.
Initially, Smith looked to have got over the line but the television match official Glenn Newman ruled the ball hadn't been grounded. Then from the resulting scrum blindside flanker Jerome Kaino was shown to have put his foot in touch before he grounded the ball.
The Hurricanes then kept their line intact until Ellison returned soon after.
In another burst at the line, Williams was held up in-goal. The Blues were eventually cleared out of the 22m area after a free kick highlighting the outstanding Hurricanes defensive display for nearly 15 minutes of acute pressure.
All the Blues could claim was an Evans penalty goal from 42m to take the lead 19-17 after 59 minutes.
From the restart a kick downfield saw centre Anthony Tuitavake make a jolting tackle on So'oialo which produced a scrum feed for the Blues to keep the pressure on.
Ripia then made an intercept of a Williams pass and fed Nonu who was downed just short of the line. Then it was the Blues who cleared from a free kick before replacement fullback Shannon Paku chipped toward the line to put more pressure on the line.
The Blues proved equally adept in holding out the Blues in an equally long period on defence and they wound the clock down superbly to hold out for the win to keep their slim semi-final hopes alive.
Blues 19
Tries: Boric
Con: Evans
Pen: Evans 3
Hurricanes 17
Tries: Gear 2
Con: Weepu 2
Pen: Weepu
HT: 17-16
Some outstanding defence met continuing determined attack from both sides, especially during an exciting second half that yielded only one penalty goal - the winning kick as it proved to be from Blues fullback Nick Evans.
The atmosphere was electric in front of a near capacity house. It was cut and thrust especially during the second half.
Television ruled out two prospective tries for the Blues when they were a point behind just after the half-time break while Hurricanes first five-eighths Willie Ripia attempted three dropped goals in the last five minutes but each missed.
The game was played in perfect conditions, cool but crisp with no wind and in front of a crowd of 37,352.
It was out of the mists of nowhere that right wing Hosea Gear scored the opening try. The Hurricanes had been moving the ball across field, but was dropped back and Gear had to come back infield to pick up the ball.
He then ran across field past player after player and then in centre field the gap opened up and he strolled 35m for the simplest of tries beside the posts.
Then the Blues restart failed to go 10m and halfback Piri Weepu kicked towards the corner where Blues fullback Nick Evans, who had landed a penalty goal six minutes into the game, had his clearing kick charged down.
Gear couldn't believe his luck as he got a favourable bounce and scored his second try within two minutes. Weepu added his second conversion just as 20 minutes were posted.
The Blues response was instantaneous as lock Anthony Boric, one of the outstanding Blues contributors over the season, finished off some driving play which saw hooker Keven Mealamu and centre Anthony Tuitavake making good ground before Boric was fed the ball to plough over.
After several times speaking to Blues No.8 Nick Williams for not rolling clear at the tackle, referee Bryce Lawrence sin-binned him for a repeat offence after 30 minutes.
The Blues came back and as wing David Smith kicked ahead he was impeded by fullback Tamati Ellison and wing Zac Guildford who looked to grab at Smith. But after discussion with the assistant referee, Lawrence sin-binned Ellison.
Weepu and Evans exchanged penalty goals from the two incidents.
While Williams returned after the break, the Hurricanes almost paid dearly when a kick to Guildford who was patrolling Ellison's vacant position, resulted in a poor clearance.
Initially, Smith looked to have got over the line but the television match official Glenn Newman ruled the ball hadn't been grounded. Then from the resulting scrum blindside flanker Jerome Kaino was shown to have put his foot in touch before he grounded the ball.
The Hurricanes then kept their line intact until Ellison returned soon after.
In another burst at the line, Williams was held up in-goal. The Blues were eventually cleared out of the 22m area after a free kick highlighting the outstanding Hurricanes defensive display for nearly 15 minutes of acute pressure.
All the Blues could claim was an Evans penalty goal from 42m to take the lead 19-17 after 59 minutes.
From the restart a kick downfield saw centre Anthony Tuitavake make a jolting tackle on So'oialo which produced a scrum feed for the Blues to keep the pressure on.
Ripia then made an intercept of a Williams pass and fed Nonu who was downed just short of the line. Then it was the Blues who cleared from a free kick before replacement fullback Shannon Paku chipped toward the line to put more pressure on the line.
The Blues proved equally adept in holding out the Blues in an equally long period on defence and they wound the clock down superbly to hold out for the win to keep their slim semi-final hopes alive.
Blues 19
Tries: Boric
Con: Evans
Pen: Evans 3
Hurricanes 17
Tries: Gear 2
Con: Weepu 2
Pen: Weepu
HT: 17-16
