All Blacks star leads the way as clinical Blues power past Highlanders

Caleb Clarke was in fine form for the Blues as they consolidated their position at the top of the table when they clinched a 47-13 bonus-point victory over the Highlanders at Eden Park on Saturday.

The All Blacks wing caught the eye with an outstanding attacking performance and proved a handful for the Highlanders defence as the Blues outscored their hapless visitors by seven tries to one.

It was a clinical display from Vern Cotter’s men with Clarke, Kurt Eklund (2), Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Cole Forbes, Kade Banks and Taufa Funaki all crossing the whitewash while Harry Plummer slotted six conversions.

For the Highlanders, who were competitive during the early stages but faded badly as the match progressed, Timoci Tavatavanawai scored a try which was converted by Cameron Millar, who also succeeded with two penalties.

Click here for scorers

The Blues made a bright start when Tu’ungafasi burrowed his way over the try-line in the fourth minute after Akira Ioane broke off the back of a five-metre scrum in the build-up.

Shortly afterwards, Sean Withy found Tavatavanawai with an inside pass deep inside Blues territory and the powerful winger opened the Highlanders’ scoring with a well-taken try.

The Blues struck back with Forbes’ five-pointer in the 13th minute before Millar added successive penalties which meant the match was evenly poised midway through the opening period.

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The Blues did not panic, however, and on the half-hour mark Eklund scored his first try off the back of a lineout drive which gave his team a 21-13 lead at half-time.

After the interval, the hosts stepped up a couple of gears on attack and Clarke was leading the way with some barnstorming carries. After one of those runs Banks rounded off on his Super Rugby Pacific debut in the 46th minute and soon after Eklund crossed for his second try before Funaki also got his name on the scoreboard in the 63rd minute.

That try seemed to knock the wind out of the Highlanders’ sails but the Blues were not done and Clarke added the final nail into the visitors’ coffin when he crossed for a deserved try in the game’s closing stages.

The teams

Blues: 15 Cole Forbes, 14 Kade Banks, 13 AJ Lam, 12 Corey Evans, 11 Caleb Clarke, 10 Harry Plummer, 9 Sam Nock, 8 Akira Ioane, 7 Dalton Papali’i (c), 6 Adrian Choat, 5 Sam Darry, 4 Laghlan McWhannell, 3 Marcel Renata, 2 Kurt Eklund, 1 Ofa Tu’ungafasi
Replacements: 16 Soane Vikena, 17 Mason Tupaea, 18 Angus Ta’avao, 19 Josh Beehre, 20 Cameron Suafoa, 21 Taufa Funaki, 22 Meihana Grindlay, 23 Caleb Tangitau

Highlanders: 15 Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, 14 Timoci Tavatavanawai, 13 Tanielu Tele’a, 12 Jake Te Hiwi, 11 Martín Bogado, 10 Cameron Millar, 9 Folau Fakatava, 8 Nikora Broughton, 7 Sean Withy, 6 Oliver Haig, 5 Fabian Holland, 4 Mitch Dunshea, 3 Jermaine Ainsley, 2 Henry Bell, 1 Ethan de Groot (c)
Replacements: 16 Jack Taylor, 17 Ayden Johnstone, 18 Saula Ma’u, 19 Will Tucker, 20 Will Stodart, 21 James Arscott, 22 Sam Gilbert, 23 Finn Hurley

Referee: Paul Williams (New Zealand)
Assistant Referees: Dan Waenga (New Zealand), Mike Winter (New Zealand)
TMO: Richard Kelly (New Zealand)

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