BLUES OVERPOWER MOANA PASIFIKA AT EDEN PARK

Another strong Blues performance saw them run in four unanswered second half tries as they proved too strong for Moana Pasifika, claiming a commanding 43-7 victory at Eden Park on Sunday afternoon.

The Blues came out firing and it didn’t take long for the first points to arrive. After a lineout inside the 22, the forwards went to work, hammering away at Moana Pasifika’s defensive line. Sam Nock spotted space at the base of the ruck and darted over to give the home side an early 5-0 lead.

A red card to Augustine Pulu soon after opened the door, and the Blues wasted no time taking advantage. Building pressure deep in the attacking zone, the ball was worked left where Taufa Funaki stabbed a clever kick through for AJ Lam to regather and score.

Moana Pasifika struck back to reduce the deficit to 10-7, but the Blues responded immediately.

From the restart they attacked again, Xavi Taele linking up with Codemeru Vai who stormed down the sideline before finding Anton Segner just short of the line. Ofa Tu’ungafasi finished the movement moments later, charging over to extend the lead.

Moana Pasifika threatened late in the first half and thought they had crossed twice, but both tries were scrubbed by the TMO, leaving the Blues with a 15-7 advantage at the break.

The second half firmly belonged to the home side.

Within minutes the Blues struck again, working their way up field through a penalty before Marcel Renata powered over from close range. Soon after, Beauden Barrett launched a superb spiral bomb that earned a 50/22. From the resulting lineout the forwards went back to work, and Sam Darry forced his way across to push the lead to 29-7.

With control firmly in their hands, the Blues added two more late tries. Vai showed electric pace to finish down the right edge after a turnover in the ruck, before Mason Tupaea spotted a gap in the defensive line to cap off the scoring.

Vai was outstanding with 104 running metres and a try, while captain Dalton Papali’i led from the front once again with 25 tackles.

Next up in Round 6 the Blues head across the Tasman to face the Waratahs in Sydney on Saturday night.

Blues 43: (Tries: Tu'ungafasi, Renata, Nock, Darry, Vai, Lam, Tupaea; Cons: Barrett 4) 
Moana Pasifika 7: (Try: Sanerivi; Con: Pellegrini)
Referee: James Doleman