George Moala celebrates with his Blues teammates after scoring a try. Source: Sandra Mu / Getty Images
A SCORING blitz on either side of half-time has secured the Blues a remarkable 35-24 come-from-behind Super Rugby victory over the Crusaders in Auckland.
The Crusaders appeared to be racing away with the game when they pulled out to a 17-3 lead midway through the opening spell.
But the Blues turned the match on its head with four tries in 13 minutes.
The result at Eden Park means the Crusaders have started the season with two straight defeats.
For the Blues, it was a spectacular way to end to a seven-game losing run going back to last May.
MATCH CENTRE: Scores, stats and video highlights from Blues v Crusaders
Blues fullback Charles Piutau tries to get by Crusaders flanker Richie McCaw.
There was plenty of encouragement in the performance of their young brigade, with debutant first five-eighth Simon Hickey, lock Patrick Tuipulotu and winger Tevita Li all contributing.
The 20-year-old Hickey, a surprise choice at No. 10, showed some nice touches with ball in hand and landed six of his seven shots at goal.
He was even confident enough at one stage to demand the ball for a penalty attempt rather than allow a tap.
The Blues made the early running but their repeated failure to secure their own lineout ball meant they couldn't capitalise.
They then saw the opposition score from their first real incursion, hooker Corey Flynn displaying a winger's skills to dot down in the corner.
George Moala of the Blues fends off Andy Ellis of the Crusaders at Eden Park.
While that try came off a counter-attack, it was traditional Crusaders patience that produced the second touchdown to fullback Colin Slade.
Seven minutes from half-time the Blues flicked the switch.
Firstly, a great turnover by lock Tom Donnelly was finished off by winger Frank Halai.
Then the Blues other lock, Tuipulotu, snared the kick-off and sent the other winger, 18-year-old Li, away to the tryline to close the gap to two points at the break.
A minute after the restart, the home side went ahead for the first time, when the Crusaders couldn't clean up a Hickey kick-ahead and centre George Moala grabbed the loose ball to score.
Second five-eighth Jackson Willison put them further in front after he latch on to halfback Piri Weepu's deft kick to the in-goal for the bonus-point try.
The Crusaders mounted a comeback and, with Blues flanker Steven Luatua binned for a breakdown offence, they got a late consolation try to second five Ryan Crotty.
BLUES 35 (Frank Halai, Tevita Li, George Moala, Jackson Willison tries Simon Hickey 3 cons 3 pens) bt CRUSADERS 24 (Ryan Crotty, Corey Flynn, Colin Slade tries Tom Taylor 3 cons pen) at Eden Park. Referee: Mike Fraser.
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