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Evans' drop goal downs the Northern Bulls

Rudi Wulf of the Blues, right, tackles Zane Kirchner of the Bulls during their Super 14 match at Eden Park in Auckland, New Zealand, yesterday. PHOTO: AP

Nick Evans proved six months too late he can land a match-winning drop goal as he kicked the Auckland Blues to a 23-21 win over the Northern Bulls in a tense Super 14 rugby clash yesterday.

The win lifted the Blues to second place with five wins from seven matches, while a third successive defeat on the road left the defending champions the Bulls languishing near the bottom.

In a bruising encounter in which both sides revelled in fearless confrontation, the Bulls had the game in their grasp when they took a 21-20 lead with 15 minutes remaining.

But the Blues came back for Evans to land a drop goal in what became the deciding kick of the match.

A question that has vexed New Zealand since the All Blacks' 18-20 defeat in the World Cup quarter-finals last October was why Evans did not attempt a drop goal in the closing stages of that match.

The reason given was that it was not a move the All Blacks had practised, but Evans showed for the Blues no rehearsal was necessary.

The Bulls had chances to equalize in the closing minutes when they won a series of free kicks inside the Blues 22, but they were unable to work Derick Hougaard into a position to have his own drop goal attempt.

"I've lost like that before and it's not nice," said Blues captain Troy Flavell, who had reservations about the quality of his side's win.

The Blues scored two tries, both converted by Evans, who also landed two penalties and a drop goal, while the Bulls scored three tries, all converted by Hougaard.

In a fast-paced match where Springbok backrower Pierre Spies played the full 80 minutes in his first game since blood clots were found on his lungs last August, the Blues led 10-7 at halftime.

Flavell scored a disputed try which was awarded by the television match official after a lengthy study of the video, while there was the impression the ball had not been grounded correctly.

Evans converted the try and kicked a penalty, while the Bulls replied with a try to prop Wikus van Heerden who drove through the middle of a ruck as the Auckland forwards moved to protect the flanks.

Keven Mealamu scored the Blues' second try five minutes into the second half and the Bulls responded almost immediately, driving van Heerden over from a lineout for his second touchdown.

After a second Evans penalty lifted the Blues to a 20-14 lead, the Bulls hit the lead for the first and only time.

Outstanding Bulls wing Bryan Habana took the ball on the halfway, stepped around an attempted tackle by Kurtis Haiau and outsprinted Evans in a race to the line, before unloading to unmarked hooker Derick Kuun who scored.

But with eight minutes remaining Evans landed the drop goal that sealed the match for the Blues.
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