Blues keep hopes alive

The Blues kept alive their hopes for a Super 14 semi-final berth with a bonus-point 35-22 win over the Reds in Brisbane on Friday.

The Blues outscored their hosts four tries to three to run out deserving winners in a closely-fought game.

The Blues led the teams into the interval 20-7 up at half-time. While the Reds had to be commended for playing enterprising rugby, the Blues showed more patience and produced more constructive play.

The home side were more composed in the second-half and racked up 15 unanswered points before a Kurtis Haiu try put the Blues back in front.

Separated by just a couple of points in the closing stages, the game could have gone either way.

But with just five minutes on the clock Nick Evans slotted a magnificent penalty and then Taniela Moa snuck over for the Blues' bonus point try to close the game out.

Evans had opened the scoring for the Blues after Isa Nacewa was on the wrong end of a high tackle.

Powering

But the Reds responded to take 7-3 lead after a quarter of an hour when Leroy Houston broke from a scrum and found David Croft on his inside to score. Clinton Schifcofske added the extras.

The Blues responded with a try from a scrum of their own, with Jerome Kaino powering away from the base of the set-piece to drag Reds captain James Horwill over the line with him.

Another strong scrum from the Blues pack saw Daniel Braid break away to tackle thump Houston, who coughed up the ball allowing Nacewa to run nearly 40 metre unopposed to score

However, having led 20-7 at the interview, the Blues found themselves on the back foot in the second half as Schifcofske slotted over a penalty and Van Humphries powered over.

The scores were then level when Tony Woodcock knocked on inside the Reds 22, gifting Peter Hynes the ball for the Reds winger to sprint 80 metres. Schifcofske converted and suddenly the Reds were in front.

However Haiu appeared on the end of a massive over lap to score and put the Blues back into the lead, before Evans kicked a penalty and then Moa stretched out to score the final try.