Blues on top in Brisbane
A second-half fightback from the Blues secured victory for the visitors in miserable conditions in Queensland.
Last Updated: 27/02/10 12:13pm
A second-half fightback from the Blues secured victory for the visitors in miserable conditions in Queensland.
The home side had not played at their famous old ground for five years since choosing to move to Suncorp Stadium, and the home side looked like they were on their way to a fine win at their spiritual home as scrum-half Will Genia claimed an early score and eight points from the boot of fly-half Quade Cooper gave them a 13-8 lead.
But the Aucklanders hit back after the break as Anthony Boric, Alby Mathewson and Rudi Wulf all crossed, meaning Laurie Weeks' score was not enough to earn the Reds a losing bonus point.
Skipper Genia, leading the side in the absence of James Horwill, gave the hosts a dream start as he crossed within the opening two minutes. Blues' fly-half Stephen Brett's poorly placed kick was charged down by the Wallabies' half-back and he gathered the loose ball to race away for a try that Cooper converted.
Cooper then knocked over a penalty to extend the lead but the Blues were slowly gaining control of the game.
Centre Rene Ranger, who had blown a try moments earlier, managed to muscle his way through a host of Reds tacklers to cross. Brett, who missed the conversion and two penalties, and Cooper exchanged penalties before the break to leave the home side with a five-point lead.
But that did not last long as the Blues hit back with a powerful start to the second stanza.
All Black lock Boric burrowed his way over from close range following some good forward work, before Mathewson had a 30-metre run in after a lineout move had caught the home defence cold to move into a 20-13 lead.
Disallowed
But the Reds hit back as Weeks went over, but Cooper missed the conversion and a penalty to leave them still trailing by two points.
Morgan Turinui went close to reclaiming the lead but the video referee disallowed his effort for a knock-on, while Mathewson almost sealed the Blues win but failed to ground the ball after a wonderful chip-and-chase down the sidelines.
The Reds hopes of a win were finally extinguished when slick handling put wing Wulf over in the corner and Brett nailed the touchline conversion to deny the hosts a bonus point.
