Melbourne’s travel woes continued as they fell to the high-flying Blues 40-23 in their Super Rugby clash on Good Friday in Auckland.
The Rebels have only managed one away win in their debut season and, despite an improved performance on last week’s awful effort against the Highlanders, they couldn’t match the Blues.
Melbourne suffered another disruption to their preparation when in-form centre Mark Gerrard suffered a hamstring problem during their final training run, forcing a backline reshuffle.
They got to within five points in the second half, trailing 28-23, before a try by Blues centre Jared Payne in the 74th minute sealed the result.
The boot of Stephen Brett, replacing regular Blues five-eighth Luke McAlister in the starting side, almost cost his side the game, missing 14 points worth of conversions and penalties before McAlister entered the fray.
Two tries by electric winger Rene Ranger, in the third and 13th minutes, put the visitors on the back foot early.
Melbourne five-eighth Danny Cipriani, defending in the centres, raced up quickly out of the line which left the Rebels short out wide and Ranger spotted the gap and dashed to the line.
He showed his range of skills in his second try when he toed ahead a ball after a break by halfback Alby Mathewson, beating Melbourne’s Gareth Delve and Nick Phipps on this way to the line.
The home side added another try, through All Black winger Joe Rokocoko, before the Rebels crossed for the first time in the 21st minute.
Their own winger Cooper Vuna showed he could match the opposition when he beat a host of would-be defenders in a brilliant individual effort.
The Rebels continued their fight-back through another try to winger Lachlan Mitchell and with Cipriani adding the extras, they were only three points down.
Brett finally found his range for the home side to trail 23-17 at the break.
Blues centre Benson Stanley crossed in the 47th minute but Melbourne refused to give up the fight.
They toiled hard but couldn’t break through for a much-needed try with the Blues again taking control of the match
The home side scored two tries in the final 10 minutes, through Payne and then Luke Braid to wrap up the match.
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