Blues’ All Blacks lead the way as they put Rebels to the sword in Melbourne
Mark-Telea-Blues-v-Melbourne-Rebels-SRP-2024-Alamy
The Blues continued with their outstanding Super Rugby Pacific form when they registered a 38-11 victory against the Rebels at AAMI Park in Melbourne on Friday.
Although the Rebels were competitive during the first half, the Auckland-based outfit were full value for their win as they dominated after the interval, and they eventually outscored their hosts by six tries to one.
New Zealand internationals Mark Tele’a (2) and Patrick Tuipulotu were amongst the try-scorers while Sam Darry (2) and PJ Sheck also crossed the whitewash with their other points coming via the boot of Harry Plummer, who added four conversions.
For the home side, Ryan Louwrens scored a try and Carter Gordon succeeded with a couple of penalties.
Click here for scorers
Apart from Mark Tele’a and Tuipulotu, there were also solid performances from fellow All Blacks Caleb Clarke, Hoskins Sotutu, Dalton Papali’i and Ofa Tu’ungafasi but the Blues will be worried about the condition of star centre Rieko Ioane, who was forced off the field after taking a heavy knock in the latter stages of the opening half.
The Rebels opened the scoring in the eighth minute via a penalty from Gordon before Blues struck back two minutes later when Tele’a pounced on a loose ball just inside his opponents’ half before outpacing the cover defence for his first try.
Plummer added the extras but the Rebels responded with Louwrens’ five-pointer and another Gordon penalty which meant the hosts held a 11-7 lead by the 27th minute.
However, the Blues struck back when Sheck barged over from close quarters in the 32nd minute which gave them a one-point lead at half-time.
TJ Perenara takes Super Rugby Pacific try-scoring record for himself as Hurricanes thrash Waratahs
After the interval, the men from Auckland took control of the match and Tele’a got the ball rolling when he went over in the right-hand corner in the 47th minute despite a desperate tackle from Taniela Tupou.
Although Plummer’s conversion attempt was off target, the visitors took control of proceedings and 10 minutes later their captain, Tuipulotu, went over for his five-pointer.
That try seemed to knock the wind out of the Rebels’ sails as they capitulated in the final quarter and Darry was rewarded with a brace of tries in the game’s dying moments.
The Blues’ triumph means they consolidated second position in the Super Rugby Pacific standings and they are just one point adrift of pacesetter the Hurricanes.
The teams
Rebels: 15 Andrew Kellaway, 14 Filipo Daugunu, 13 Matt Proctor, 12 David Feliuai, 11 Darby Lancaster, 10 Carter Gordon, 9 Ryan Louwrens, 8 Rob Leota (c), 7 Vaiolini Ekuasi, 6 Josh Kemeny, 5 Josh Canham, 4 Angelo Smith, 3 Taniela Tupou, 2 Jordan Uelese, 1 Isaac Kailea
Replacements: 16 Ethan Dobbins, 17 Matt Gibbon, 18 Sam Talakai, 19 Tuaina Taii Tualima, 20 Maciu Nabolakasi, 21 Jack Maunder, 22 Jake Strachan, 23 Lachie Anderson
Blues: 15 Cole Forbes, 14 Mark Tele’a, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 AJ Lam, 11 Caleb Clarke, 10 Harry Plummer, 9 Taufa Funaki, 8 Hoskins Sotutu, 7 Dalton Papali’i, 6 Anton Segner, 5 Laghlan McWhannell, 4 Patrick Tuipulotu (c), 3 PJ Sheck, 2 Ricky Riccitelli, 1 Ofa Tu’ungafasi
Replacements: 16 Kurt Eklund, 17 Joshua Fusitu’a, 18 Marcel Renata, 19 Sam Darry, 20 Cam Suafoa, 21 Sam Nock, 22 Corey Evans, 23 Bryce Heem
Referee: Angus Gardner (Australia)
Assistant Referees: Matt Kellahan (Australia), James Palmer (Australia)