Blues 40 Highlanders 15

Nick Evans, having finally settled on his future, kept his present on course for an unlikely happy ending as he propelled the Blues to their required bonus point Super 14 victory over the Highlanders in Dunedin.

Once the hero of Carisbrook, the Blues fullback returned to his old home ground and produced a vivid reminder of why his departure was so lamented by the dwindling southern faithful. His two-try, 21-point opening half haul got his side away to the perfect start as they kicked on to thrash the Highlanders 40-15, five tries to two, to move, temporarily, into the competition's top four.

Evans started the week by confirming he had signed a near three-year deal with the Harlequins club in London and finished it with a standout display that saw him net 23 points all told on what was another good night for the Blues.

The Auckland franchise have now at least given themselves a shot and if they can secure one more bonus point win to round out the season, at home against the Hurricanes next Friday night, they could yet clinch a semifinal spot that looked a forlorn prospect three weeks ago.

It was an impressive opening 40 from the Blues as they went effectively about the business of getting the result they need to keep their playoff hopes alive.

At the end of a spell they possibly couldn't have scripted better themselves, the Blues had three tries and a 26-3 lead that pefectly laid the foundations for the required bonus point victory.

Evans had the first two touchdowns as he completed a 21-point first-half haul that not only propelled him to the top of the Super 14 points-scoring chart, but also stunned the Carisbrook faithful who were so used to cheering his every move until his return north this year.

The Blues fullback banged over three penalties to take his side out to 9-0 inside an opening quarter dominated by the visitors. It was disciplined stuff too from the northerners who appeared to have their minds on the job.

So it proved as Evans had the opening try on the 26-minute mark, for a 14-3 lead. Initially the Blues attacked crisply from lineout, Nick Williams hitting it up and quick phase ball seeing Evans put in a little grubber kick behind the rushing Highlanders defence and then winning the chase.

Seven minutes later the England-bound fullback had doubled his tally, though he had a lot to thank tighthead prop John Afoa for. The Blues No 3 had featured twice in the buildup, and it was his last touch that saw him power between two tackles and slip the pass to Evans for the finish in the left corner, and a 21-3 lead.

The Highlanders had worked their way back into the match by this stage, but they continued to pay the price for errors, either in skill or judgment, that littered their game.

This time, three minutes before the end of the half, the home side couldn't clear a probing Blues kick and coughed up a 5m scrum when Mike Delany was trapped ingoal.

The Blues' impressive set piece didn't need a second invitation from this prime position, Tony Woodcock wheeling just perfectly and crisp execution putting Rudi Wulf over on the short side before the Highlanders cover defence had even reacted.

There was a hint of a Highlanders comeback over the third quarter as the home side struck with two tries to briefly stun the Blues and close to within 11 at 15-26.

Centre Aaron Bancroft had the first a dozen minutes into the second stanza when he did well to finish a move sparked by Jimmy Cowan and featuring an outstanding run from second five Johnny Leota. And in-form flanker Adam Thomson nabbed the second when he was on hand to fall on a pinpoint Cowan crosskick after skipper Craig Newby had carved another hole in the Blues defence.

The Blues needed a settling score at that stage and it was delivered via one of their form men of 2008, centre Anthony Tuitavake jinking his way over for a trademark 62nd-minute try that not only sealed the victory, but added the all-important bonus point.

There was time for one last try as Blues wing David Smith nabbed ruck ball from a position that looked suspiciously offside and dashed 80m for a try to round out a good night for his side.

For the Blues, their scrum was again superior, Jerome Kaino had another busy match in the loose, skipper Troy Flavell weighed in with a more disciplined effort in the tight and No 8 Nick Williams served up the yardage when it was needed.

Taniela Moa continued his impressive run of form at halfback where he was a constant menace, Evans was superb in the opening 40, and Tuitavake just served up more of the quality fare we've now come to expect from him. To be fair to coach David Nucifora his late-season positional switch of Evans and Isa Nacewa also continued to serve up the right sort of results.

The Highlanders never stopped trying, none more so than tireless skipepr Newby and the indefatigable Thomson, but they were well and truly outgunned on an evening when it was Mission Accomplished for the desperate visitors.

BLUES 40 (Nick Evans 2, Rudi Wulf, Anthony Tuitavake, David Smith tries; Evans 2 cons, 3 pens, Ben Atiga con) bt HIGHLANDERS 15 (Aaron Bancroft, Adam Thomson tries; Mike Delany con, pen) at Carisbrook, Dunedin. Referee: Chris Pollock (Nzl).

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