Blues 23 Bulls 21

The Blues needed a late dropped goal from Nick Evans to secure a hard-fought 23-21 victory over the Bulls in their Super 14 clash at Eden Park on Saturday night.

Evans stepped up and slotted the key three-pointer with seven minutes left in the match, putting his side into the lead for the final time. They then withstood a furious late Bulls charge to hang on for their fifth win of the season to put them, momentarily at least, into second on the table.

Earlier the Bulls had looked in with a chance of a massive upset when hooker Derick Kuun crossed following a scintillating kick return from wonder wing Bryan Habana to put the South Africans into a 21-20 lead.

The Blues had led 10-7 at halftime, Troy Flavell's try in the 10th minute being answered by a seven-pointer to Bulls flanker Wikus van Heerden five minutes later.

Keven Mealamu crossed for the Blues soon after halftime to put them out to a 17-7 lead, but a second try to van Heerden got the Bulls back into it, and then Kuun's touchdown set up the thrilling conclusion.

Blues 23: Troy Flavell, Keven Mealamu tries; Nick Evans 2 pens, 2 cons, dg.

Bulls 21: Wikus van Heerden 2, Derick Kuun tries; Derick Hougaard 3 cons. Ht: 10-7.

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