Blues take over at the top
The Auckland Blues moved to the top of the Super Rugby standings thanks to a 15-10 win over the Otago Highlanders.
Last Updated: 29/04/11 11:52am
The Auckland Blues moved to the top of the Super Rugby standings after holding off the Otago Highlanders 15-10 at Carisbrook.
Luke McAlister kicked all the Blues' points as they recorded an eighth straight win, completing a clean sweep over New Zealand Conference opponents in the process.
The Highlanders did manage a try - Robbie Robinson going over - but were unable to make the most of their dominance in possession.
Poor discipline let them down on more than one occasion - they twice saw players sent to the sin-bin in what was a defensive battle in Dunedin.
They trailed 9-0 at the break after McAlister landed his third penalty of the half right before the siren sounded, though the hosts soon made a game of it when Robinson scored straight after the break.
Capitalised
The full-back capitalised on a drive to the line to force his way over from close range before adding the easy conversion himself to make it 9-7.
The score came when the hosts were actually down to 14 men - lock Jarrad Hoeata had seen yellow right before the break for an infringement at a ruck.
However, the Blues kept their noses in front thanks to a pair of penalties from McAlister, the second of which opened up a five-point cushion with 14 minutes remaining.
Having landed one second-half penalty to make it 12-10 Robinson crucially missed another attempt in the 69th minute and despite piling on the pressure, the Highlanders couldn't find a way to edge ahead.
Their hopes of a late try finally evaporated when replacement Aaron Smith was sent to the bin for a dangerous tackle with just under five minutes to play.
Defeat, their third of the campaign, leaves the Highlanders clinging on to sixth place, the final play-off spot, with New South Wales Waratahs six points back.
