Auckland Blues replacement winger Rene Ranger scored two tries and flyhalf Luke McAlister kicked 14 points as the New Zealand side rallied to beat the Lions 41-32 in a Super rugby match on Friday.
The visitors trailed 25-17 at the break, but Ranger’s appearance sparked a 17-point scoring streak that put the game out of the reach of the Lions, who have now lost 16 straight matches in two seasons.
The Lions went 5-0 down in the fourth minute, but scored three tries to build an eight-point lead at the break.
Photo: EPA
However, poor defense and some ineffective substitutions halted their progress as the New Zealanders turned the screws.
Blues’ All Blacks winger Joe Rokocoko opened the scoring when he dived over in the right-hand corner, but the Lions responded with their own corner-flag effort when eighth man Warren Whiteley released scrumhalf Jano Vermaak.
Rokocoko created the visitors’ second try when he chipped and gathered his own kick to put center Jared Payne away in the 13th minute to make it 14-7.
Flyhalves Elton Jantjies and McAlister traded a penalty and drop goal respectively before Whiteley drew the Lions level when he ran a superb support line off center Waylon Murray to canter over unopposed.
Jantjies put the Lions ahead for the first time on the half-hour with a penalty before combining well with winger Michael Killian and flanker Derick Minnie to see center Doppies la Grange dance his way over.
However, the tide turned in the 51st minute when Payne broke down the left-hand touchline before putting Ranger in for a try with his first touch of the ball.
Ranger found himself on the scoresheet again just four minutes later after McAlister broke through in midfield before linking up with Payne.
The flyhalf nailed the touchline conversion to open up a six-point lead, but the Lions finally registered their only points of the second period when flanker Josh Strauss barged over with 14 minutes left to register a bonus point.
Their resurgence was short-lived as scrumhalf Alby Mathewson scored the Blues’ fifth try after 70 minutes to seal the win.
REDS V BRUMBIES
REUTERS, CANBERRA
The Queensland Reds ground down the ACT Brumbies 31-25 in a workmanlike performance yesterday to end 15 years without a win at Canberra Stadium.
Razor-sharp flyhalf Quade Cooper slotted home seven penalty goals and a wobbly drop goal in a 26-point game as the Reds staved off a late fightback to spoil Tony Rea’s debut as Brumbies caretaker coach.
The Brumbies scored four tries to the Reds’ one and finished with a second bonus point for losing within seven points, but that was little consolation for the Canberra-based side who sacked coach Andy Friend in the middle of last week following their last-gasp, one-point loss to the Melbourne Rebels.
After being trounced by the Waratahs last week, the Reds shelved their entertaining running game, stacking their bench with forward muscle and showing fierce resolve at the breakdown.
The result was a 10-0 lead within 12 minutes, with flanker Scott Higginbotham crashing over the line right of the posts after receiving a slick pass out of a ruck from flyhalf Will Genia.
Wallaby front-rower Steven Moore caught the Reds defense napping 8 minutes later, however, taking a quick tap after an offside penalty in the 22 and bursting through for the Brumbies’ first try.
Fullback Pat McCabe gave the Brumbies their second try 8 minutes before the break, stepping past Cooper and ducking back inside to plant the ball right of the posts.
The enterprising Cooper kept the Brumbies at bay, however, slotting a drop goal and a fourth penalty kick on the stroke of halftime to give the Reds a 22-15 lead at the break.
The Reds were reduced to 14 until 8 minutes into the second half after prop Ben Daley was sin-binned for a high tackle on McCabe.
The Brumbies rallied to within two points after prop Ben Alexander threw long and wide into the arms of Tongan No. 8 Ita Vaea, who cantered over for his first career try.
Cooper stepped up again, however, scoring another three penalties to give the Reds an 11-point break with 10 minutes left.
Matt Giteau had a chance to bring the Brumbies within a try of winning after Alexander crossed 4 minutes later, but his conversion kick pounded the left upright to ease the pressure.
It was Giteau’s third missed conversion of the night.
CHIEFS V REBELS
REUTERS, WELLINGTON
The Waikato Chiefs sent the Melbourne Rebels crashing back to Earth with a thud yesterday, thrashing the competition newcomers 38-10 in Hamilton for their first victory of the Super rugby season.
Winger Lelia Masaga scored a brace of tries, his brilliant second giving the Chiefs a bonus point 2 minutes before the final whistle and coming after a breathtaking run down the wing that started at the Rebels’ 22-yard line.
The Chiefs dominated possession and smashed an undisciplined Rebels side at the breakdown, scoring a try in the first half and adding three more in the second on a drizzly night at Waikato Stadium.
The Chiefs were frustrated early by dour defense in the 22 and fumbled a couple of red-hot try opportunities in the slippery conditions.
Bustling lock Isaac Ross broke the game open five minutes before the break, however, barging through midfield to drive the Chiefs to the 22 before setting off a chain of passes that ended with winger Sitiveni Sivivatu scampering over the line left of the posts.
Flyhalf Stephen Donald -converted his third penalty goal to extend the lead to 16-3 at halftime.
The Rebels, who defended solidly against the ACT Brumbies last week to clinch an emotional first win in the competition, hurt themselves with lapses of discipline throughout.
Flyhalf Danny Cipriani conceded another three points four minutes after the break after laying a high tackle on Umaga.
The evergreen center then had a hand in the Chiefs’ second try, dishing off to winger Masaga, who crashed through a weak tackle by fullback Mark Gerrard and streamed down the wing to plant the ball in the right corner eight minutes after the break.
The Rebels pegged the deficit back to 26-10 10 minutes later when former Wales international Gareth Delve heaved himself across after snatching a ball spilled from a ruck on the try-line.
However, Fijian live-wire Sivivatu snuffed out any hopes of a comeback by barging to the 22 before feeding Sona Taumalolo who came off the bench to score the Chiefs’ third try in the 66th minute.
Masaga, dangerous all night, capped a solid return to form with the Chiefs fourth try that raised the rafters.
The winger received from Umaga at the 22, then weaved past a defender and burned away from a clutch of hapless Rebels to score in the right corner after an exhilarating 70m run.
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