Ofa Tu’ungafasi charges against Fijian Drua.
Photo: Andrew Cornaga/Photosport
The Blues have overcome a spirited Fijian Drua effort to win 40-15 and secure the Joeli Vidiri Memorial Trophy, contested by the two teams for the first time.
The bonus-point victory at Eden Park keeps the Blues in second place on the Super Rugby Pacific ladder. They are equal on 25 points with the Hurricanes, but the Wellington side, who earlier had a bonus-point 52-14 win over the Reds in Wellington, have a huge points differential advantage and a game in hand over the Blues.
In a bruising encounter, the Drua took the game to the Blues, who led 14-12 at halftime.
The Drua took the lead early in the second half, but the loss of talisman halfback Frank Lomani to an ankle injury co-incided with a Blues lift, as their speedy backs got more involved and finished it off with a Caleb Clarke try.
Payton Spencer, son of former All Black Carlos Spencer, scored a try in his first top-level game at Eden Park.
Follow the live action here: