Auckland Blues ran in five tries in an emphatic 44-14 victory over the struggling Queensland Reds at Eden Park on Friday night, their first win in their last five meetings with the 2011 Super Rugby champions.
Ma'a Nonu Photo: AFP
The Blues scored five tries to the Queenland Reds' two as the hosts ran away with their fifth win, a bonus point victory, to continue their push for the playoffs.
The Reds leaked 14 points around half-time while prop James Slipper was in the sin-bin for a tip tackle.
Jackson Willison profited first from All Black Ma'a Nonu's cut-out pass to wing Lolagi Visinia, then Nonu's little kick-through near the line set up the second try to Visinia.
Once Slipper returned, Nonu then offloaded after making a clean break, the All Black midfielder gifting Bryn Hall his five-pointer, unerringly converted by young first five Simon Hickey, who also kicked three penalties.
On the 50-minute mark, Tom Donnelly dotted down for the bonus point fourth try at the end of a long-range, flowing team move.
Shortly afterwards the veteran Blues prop Tony Woodcock was sin-binned for punching and the Reds struck back straightaway, pushing over for a try to replacement forward Ben Daley.
The Reds captain James Horwill scored the Reds' second try to make it a 23-point deficit with 15 minutes remaining.
But it was the replacement Blues back Ihaia West who scored next on his debut, touching down with two minutes left off a Charles Piutau intercept. West then converted for the final 44-14 scoreline.
The Blues led 20-0 at half-time.
