15 Mar 2022

Blues win their Super Rugby Aupiki opener

9:16 pm on 15 March 2022

The Blues have won their first match in Super Rugby Aupiki.

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Photo: Photosport

Up against a Matatu side with two matches against the Chiefs already under their belts, the Blues showed their mettle with a 21-10 win in Hamilton on Tuesday night.

A Covid outbreak in the Blues squad delayed the opening round of the competition, before their rescheduled first match had to be cancelled due to the Hurricanes having to many positive cases.

The Blues led 7-3 at halftime and while Matatu remained within four midway through the second half, a third Blues try with 10 minutes remaining clinched the result.

In the first match of the day at the same venue, the Chiefs went two-from-two with a 29-8 win over the Hurricanes Poua.

After a narrow win over Matatu last week, the Manawa were pushed by a Hurricanes side playing their first game before pulling clear in latter stages of the second half.

The Chiefs, who led by just four points at halftime, survived two second half yellow cards to eventually ensure victory with two tries in the final 10 minutes of the match.