Blues tame Lions to lead Sharks

SYDNEY – Auckland Blues fended off a concerted South African push with a six-try drubbing of the Golden Lions to lead rugby’s Super 14 tournament by three points after this weekend’s sixth round.

The New Zealanders clobbered the previously in-form Johannesburg-based Lions 41-14 at home Saturday for their fifth win of the season and picked up their third bonus point in the southern hemisphere provincial series. The Blues are waving the flag for New Zealand rugby against a two-prong assault this season from rejuvenated South African teams, Coastal Sharks and Northern Bulls, who both advanced with comprehensive wins this weekend.The Durban-based Sharks came from 13-14 down at the interval to overpower the Central Cheetahs 30-14 in Bloemfontein Saturday to remain unbeaten in five games and with a game in hand on the table-topping Blues.The Bulls of Pretoria monstered the inept New South Wales Waratahs 32-19 for their first-ever win in Sydney to hold down third spot, two points ahead of Australia’s Western Force, Otago Highlanders of New Zealand and the Lions.The Perth-based Force snatched their first-ever Super 14 home victory with a sideline conversion after the final siren for a dramatic 18-17 win over the Wellington Hurricanes at home on Friday.The Highlanders made the most of the home advantage at Carisbrook’s ‘House of Pain’, taking a bonus point and securing their third win from six matches in a 33-17 victory over bottom team Queensland Reds.Australia’s ACT Brumbies pulled to equal seventh with the Hurricanes with a much-improved 26-13 win over South Africa’s Western Stormers in Canberra on Friday.Six-time champion Canterbury Crusaders have eased to ninth after a bye this weekend along with fellow Kiwis, Waikato Chiefs.An opening scoring blitz set up Auckland for maximum points against the Lions with six tries, two of them to winger Doug Howlett, who finished the game level with former ACT Brumbie Joe Roff’s Super rugby record of 57 tries.The Blues had it won 34-7 by halftime but the second spell was a sloppy affair with only a converted try to both sides in the final 10 minutes.If there were any negatives for the unbeaten Sharks against the Cheetahs it was that they failed to score four tries to earn the bonus point.While the Cheetahs’ big forwards shaded the battle up front, it was the Sharks’ slick back division which enjoyed superiority.In Sydney, the Bulls comprehensively outplayed and outmuscled the Waratahs, semi-finalists for the past two years, winning by four tries to one to claim a bonus point.The Pretoria-based team broke new ground last week with their first win in Canberra, downing the ACT Brumbies 19-7, and they were even more impressive in making the Waratahs look second-best for their first win here in 11 years of Super 12/14 rugby.Nampa-AFPThe Blues are waving the flag for New Zealand rugby against a two-prong assault this season from rejuvenated South African teams, Coastal Sharks and Northern Bulls, who both advanced with comprehensive wins this weekend.The Durban-based Sharks came from 13-14 down at the interval to overpower the Central Cheetahs 30-14 in Bloemfontein Saturday to remain unbeaten in five games and with a game in hand on the table-topping Blues.The Bulls of Pretoria monstered the inept New South Wales Waratahs 32-19 for their first-ever win in Sydney to hold down third spot, two points ahead of Australia’s Western Force, Otago Highlanders of New Zealand and the Lions.The Perth-based Force snatched their first-ever Super 14 home victory with a sideline conversion after the final siren for a dramatic 18-17 win over the Wellington Hurricanes at home on Friday.The Highlanders made the most of the home advantage at Carisbrook’s ‘House of Pain’, taking a bonus point and securing their third win from six matches in a 33-17 victory over bottom team Queensland Reds.Australia’s ACT Brumbies pulled to equal seventh with the Hurricanes with a much-improved 26-13 win over South Africa’s Western Stormers in Canberra on Friday.Six-time champion Canterbury Crusaders have eased to ninth after a bye this weekend along with fellow Kiwis, Waikato Chiefs.An opening scoring blitz set up Auckland for maximum points against the Lions with six tries, two of them to winger Doug Howlett, who finished the game level with former ACT Brumbie Joe Roff’s Super rugby record of 57 tries.The Blues had it won 34-7 by halftime but the second spell was a sloppy affair with only a converted try to both sides in the final 10 minutes.If there were any negatives for the unbeaten Sharks against the Cheetahs it was that they failed to score four tries to earn the bonus point.While the Cheetahs’ big forwards shaded the battle up front, it was the Sharks’ slick back division which enjoyed superiority.In Sydney, the Bulls comprehensively outplayed and outmuscled the Waratahs, semi-finalists for the past two years, winning by four tries to one to claim a bonus point.The Pretoria-based team broke new ground last week with their first win in Canberra, downing the ACT Brumbies 19-7, and they were even more impressive in making the Waratahs look second-best for their first win here in 11 years of Super 12/14 rugby.Nampa-AFP