Super Segner powers Blues through to 47-40 win over Highlanders

The Blues have kept in touch with the top of the table with a 47-40 win over the Highlanders in Auckland.

In doing so, they retain the Gordon Hunter Memorial Trophy and go to second on the ladder, with the Hurricanes and Chiefs yet to play.

The hosts were forced to endure a nervous finish after two late tries gave the Highlanders a chance to send the game into extra time.

The Highlanders started with a bang as scrum half Adam Lennox split the lineout for the opener, capitalising on some loose ball to cross after three minutes.

This was almost instantly answered by the hosts, with their forward pack going to work. Hoskins Sotutu nabbed his first of the year from close, followed by Anton Segner, who came up wth several big turnovers.

Sam Darry extended the lead to 19-7 after 26 minutes, with the hosts holding out Jamie Joseph's team and marching back down the field.

Darry’s try gave Beauden Barrett the chance to go second for points in Super Rugby's history, eclipsing South African sharp-shooter Morne Steyn (1,551).

The big moment in the opening 40 minutes came eight minutes from half-time as Caleb Tangitau was knocked unconscious, setting up Taniela Tele’a’s try.

The flashy winger sprinted through the line and threw a beauty of a long ball to his centre, however, was collected in the head by Zarn Sullivan as his body height dipped in the tackle.

Sullivan went for ten, and the Blues held onto their 19-14 lead into half-time, picking up where they left off when the fullback returned to the park.

Bradley Slater saluted at the back of the maul four minutes into the second half, with Segner bursting through a hole for his second.

It gave the Blues a 33-14 lead after 50 minutes, with the Highlanders mounting a comeback through their dominant scrum. Multiple penalties in a row had the hosts on the back foot, with Lennox stepping and sliding his way over for his second.

As they built confidence, Beauden Barrett sought to quash it, setting up Cole Forbes to restore their advantage. But a wild pass from the All Blacks superstar gave the visitors a chance to launch a late comeback, with debutant Xavier Tito-Harris finishing off the 80 metre move.

Ben Ake looked to have sealed the win for the hosts before AJ Lam's yellow card opened the space for a large surge.

Tele'a and hooker Soane Vikena scored back-to-back tries to give them the chance to send the game into Super Point.

Back-to-back penalties had them inside the Blues 22, only for a costly knock-on to end their chances and give the hosts the win.

The last-minute tries denied the Blues a chance to go equal on points with the Hurricanes, who play the second-placed Chiefs on Saturday.

Coach Vern Cotter will turn his attention to his future side, the Queensland Reds, as part of Super Round, while the Highlanders face a must-win game against Moana Pasifika.

Source: super.rugby