Blues outclass Cheetahs

New Zealand's Auckland Blues trounce South Africa's Cheetahs 46-12 in a lopsided Super 14 match at North Harbour Stadium.

WELLINGTON // New Zealand's Auckland Blues trounced South Africa's Cheetahs 46-12 in a lopsided Super 14 match at North Harbour Stadium on Friday. The Blues ran in six tries to two to completely overwhelm a Cheetahs side that was reduced to playing uncontested scrums for the last 30 minutes after losing their starting front row. Auckland had already made a flying start to the match when the winger Anthony Tuitavake and blindside flanker Chris Lowrey scored tries inside the first 15 minutes. The Cheetahs, yet to win a match this season, opened their account when the centre Corne Uys scored an opportunistic try just before half-time but failed to contain the Blues after the restart.

Auckland fullback Isaia Toeava scored twice in the first five minutes of the second half to seal his team's bonus point on the way to their third win of the season. Substitutes Jamie Helleur and Chris Smylie both scored late tries while Cheetahs' reserve Kabamba Floors scored a consolation five-pointer for the visitors in the final play of the match. "It was definitely an improvement from last week," the Auckland captain Keven Mealamu said.

"We started the game well and it was pleasing to get six tries today. It's great to see the younger guys go out there and express themselves." *Reuters