Presented By
        Presented By
        <
        >
          Menu

          ESPN

          • scores

          You have reached ESPN's Australian edition. Stay on current site or go to US version.

          • NBA
          • Football
          • AFL
          • NRL
          • Rugby
          • NBL
          • NFL
          • Cricket
          • F1
          • NHL
          • …
            • MLB
            • Golf
            • Tennis
            • Olympic Sports
            • NASCAR
            • IndyCar
            • espnW
            • Netball
            • NCAAM
            • WNBA
            • NCAAF
            • NCAAW
            • NCAA
            • Boxing
            • MMA
            • WWE
            • X Games
            • Betting Blog
            • Horse Racing
          • More ESPN
          • Tipping
          • Listen
          • Watch
          Super Rugby Aotearoa 2020
          BluesBluesBLUES
          21
          26/07FT
          17
          ChiefsChiefsCHIEF
          • Matt Duffie(6')
          • Patrick Tuipulotu(14')
          • Finlay Christie(55')
          • Beauden Barrett(8', 15', 55')
          • Lachlan Boshier(20')
          • Solomon Alaimalo(46')
          • Damian McKenzie(21', 48')
          • Damian McKenzie(51')
          • SummarySummary
          • ReportReport
          • CommentaryCommentary
          • Match StatsMatch Stats
          • Player StatsPlayer Stats
          • LineupsLineups
          • TableTable

          Blues defence sends Chiefs to seventh successive defeat

          • Facebook
          • Twitter
          • Facebook Messenger
          • Email
          Jul 26, 2020
          • Reuters
          • Facebook
          • Twitter
          • Facebook Messenger
          • Pinterest
          • Email
          • print

          The Blues got back on the winning path as they sent the Chiefs crashing to an unwanted record with a 21-17 victory in a defensively focussed Super Rugby Aotearoa clash at Eden Park on Sunday.

          The Blues produced a massive defensive effort on their goal line in the final five minutes to preserve a win that moved them to 17 competition points, two behind the table-topping Crusaders, who have a game in hand.

          The Blue and Chiefs pack a scrum during their clash at Eden Park. Anthony Au-Yeung/Getty Images

          The Crusaders suffered their first loss of the domestic competition on Saturday, when the Hurricanes beat them 34-32 in Christchurch.

          Both the Blues and Chiefs were desperate heading into the match to arrest their respective slides with the Auckland side having lost their last two games after winning the first three.

          The Chiefs were in even more dire straits, having lost their last six games across both Super Rugby and the domestic competition and Sunday's defeat was a team-record seventh in succession.

          The Blues Matt Duffie is mobbed up after scoring the first try of the Round 7 Super Rugby Aotearoa match against the Chiefs at Eden Park, July 26, 2020 Anthony Au-Yeung/Getty Images

          The home side, with Beauden Barrett in his preferred position of flyhalf, looked the most dangerous as they raced out to a 14-0 lead courtesy of converted tries to Matt Duffie and captain Patrick Tuipulotu.

          The Chiefs, however, helped by a succession of penalties against the Blues, gradually began to build sustained pressure but were held out by a staunch defence and only had a try to Lachlan Boshier to show for all of their first-half endeavour.

          Solomon Alaimalo tied the game up after he finished off a sweeping movement in which Brad Weber, Aaron Cruden and Anton Lienert-Brown combined beautifully for an attack down the blind side early in the second.

          Damian McKenzie gave the Chiefs the lead for the first time when he slotted a penalty three minutes later before Blues scrumhalf Finlay Christie grabbed the advantage back with the home side's third try.

          • Facebook
          • Twitter
          • Facebook Messenger
          • Email
          • Terms of Use
          • Privacy Policy
          • Your California Privacy Rights
          • Children's Online Privacy Policy
          • Interest-Based Ads
          • About Nielsen Measurement
          • Do Not Sell My Info
          • Contact Us
          • Disney Ad Sales Site
          • Work for ESPN
          Copyright: © ESPN Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved.

          Standings

          New Zealand
          RTeamGPPDP
          1CRUS8+7228
          2CHIEF8-4320
          3BLUES8+1920
          4HLAND8-2514
          5HURRI8-2312
          Full Table