Caleb Clarke sees red as Blues thump Moana Pasifika
MATCH REPORT: The Blues have made it two wins over Moana Pasifika in five days after dispatching their cross-town rivals 46-16 at Eden Park in Auckland on Saturday.
The victory follows a 32-19 Blues win in a catch-up game on Tuesday.
Hooker Kurt Eklund responded with his third try to seal the contest that will be remembered for Clarke’s send-off.
The wing had jumped into the air attempting to smother rival winger Tomasi Alosio’s chip down the sideline.
Instead, his right knee collected him in the head, forcing Alosio off and Clarke out of the contest and facing a suspension of several weeks.
“I guess the turning point was that try that was disallowed and then we lost a bit of momentum,” Moana Pasifika captain Sekope Kepu said.
“Credit to the Blues, they took their opportunities. They turned around from a bit of adversity and took it down to our half and they scored.”
The Blues were again without Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (foot) while Pasifika lost coach Aaron Mauger and Filo Tiatia to COVID-19 protocols before the game.
The victory took the Blues to fourth on the ladder ahead of an away clash with the Chiefs, while Pasifika next face Mauger’s former team the Highlanders on Friday.
“The thing with Moana Pasifika, they live off physical footy and, man, the score doesn’t reflect how hard that game was,” Blues captain Dalton Papalii said.
“They always bring it and you could see if you give them a little sniff anytime in the game they can really come back.
“There are times in that game we were really on the back foot and just holding on.”
The scorers:
For Blues
Tries: Evans, Clarke, Eklund 3, Heem, Lam.
Cons: Perofeta 4
Pen: Perofeta
For Moana Pasifika:
Try: Alosio
Con: Leali’ifano
Pens Leali’ifano 3
Teams:
Blues: 15 Zarn Sullivan, 14 AJ Lam, 13 Bryce Heem, 12 Corey Evans, 11 Caleb Clarke, 10 Stephen Perofeta, 9 Finlay Christie, 8 Anton Segner, 7 Dalton Papalii (captain), 6 Cameron Suafoa, 5 Tom Robinson, 4 James Tucker, 3 Marcel Renata, 2 Kurt Eklund, 1 Alex Hodgman.
Replacements: 16 Soane Vikena, 17 Karl Tu’inukuafe/Jordan Lay, 18 Ofa Tuungafasi, 19 Luke Romano, 20 Adrian Choat, 21 Sam Nock, 22 Tanielu Tele’a, 23 Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepens.
Moana Pasifika: 15 William Havili, 14 Timoci Tavatavanawai, 13 Fine Inisi, 12 Solomone Kata, 11 Anzelo Tuitavuki, 10 Christian Leali’ifano, 9 Ereatara Enari, 8 Henry Time-Stowers, 7 Solomone Funaki, 6 Sione Tu’ipulotu, 5 Michael Curry, 4 Veikoso Poloniati, 3 Sekope Kepu (captain), 2 Samiuela Moli, 1 Ezekiel Lindenmuth.
Replacements: TBC
Referee: James Doleman
Assistant referees: Jono Bredin & Angus Mabey
TMO: Chris Hart
