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Blues edge 10-try thriller

That the Rebels were as close as that in the end is astonishing. After all their hands had let them down, they had missed many tackles, their scrumming was wobbly and the wasted much energy on unprofitable phases. And yet at the end they were just one decision away from winning. It says a great deal for the Rebels' resilience and ability to take scoring chances.

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The Blues' handling and tackling were far better but they missed five kicks at goal to the two of the Blues.

Both sides started the match running. The Rebels kicked off and the Blues ran. Then the Rebels got the ball and they ran – and scored. Going left, Tamati Ellison grubbered towards the touchline on his left. The ball was going out but James Parsons tried to prevent the ball from going infield and flicked infield but past Ihaia West. It was on the ground and Reece Hodge snapped it up top score. 5-0 after 3 minutes.

Parsons had been appointed captain the place of Jerome Kaino, apperently at Kaino's request for the sake of the team and his own game. But when Parsons was penalised at a tackle he gave Jack Debreczeni a straightforward kick at goal. 8-0 after 11 minutes.

But Parsons soon scored points for his own side. Lolagi Visinia broke and gave to Bryn Hall who was ruled to have been held up over the line. That gave the Blues a five-metre scrum on the left. West darted for the line and Kaino bashed to the line. Hall gave to Parsons and the hooker spun away from tow would be tacklers and past another two to score close to the posts after 15 minutes.

George Moala caused the Rebels serious defensive problems and when he broke through Ellison he set the Blues on advancing phases. Steven Luatua was close and then Jerome Kaino was over, and after 19 minutes the Blues led 17-8. The Rebels did not retake the lead.Blues edge 10-try thriller

Rieko Ioane had an exciting run through the midfield, West grubbered and Debreczeni saved but Nic Stirzaker's clearance did little to relieve the pressure as it results in a line-out just 10 metres from the Rebels goal-line. The Blues had a quick, little throw to the front but drove the ensuing maul over the lien for a try in the left corner by Charlie Faumuina. 17-8 after 23 minutes.

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The Rebels went through one of their sets of phases – 10 in all – which ended when they knocked on. They had five such sets of phases in the match without scoring.

Debreczeni kicked a penalty goal and a remarkable try followed. West kicked off, shallower than usual and just over the 10-metre line Luatua caught the ball running.He gave to Patrick Tuipulotu who gave to West who scored and then converted his own try. 24-11 after 31 minutes. The Blues looked as if they were running away with it but then suddenly the Rebels showed that they were not to be ignored.

A penalty gave them a five-metre line-out. They used just four men in the line-out, threw deep and mauled. They mauled over the line for a try credited to Jordy Reid. 24-18 and it was half-time.

As the Blues captain had made expensive mistakes at the start of the first half, so the Rebels captain, right at the start of the second half, passed over the dead-ball line for a five-metre scrum from which the Blues scored after a thrust by Moala. They went left where the ball went 9-12-15 11 and Tevita Li scored in the corner. 29-19 after 42 minutes.

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A penalty gave the Rebels a five-metre line-out but this time the Blues repelled the invasion.

The Blues had a penalty in front of the posts but opted for a line-out on the left. They mauled and then went wide right where fullback Visinia suddenly cut back past four would-be defenders and a fifth who tried to tackle him as he scored. Piers Francis, who had taken over the kicking from West, converted. 36-18 after 54 minutes.

Only the Rebels scored from now on.

Their first score started with a strong charge by tireless Sean McMahon that ended with some clever handling and a try for substitute flank Colby Fainga'a with 15 minutes to play.

The Blues attacked and just when it seemed that they would score a try, the Rebels did. It started with a Li break. Just when he seemed about to score Cam Crawford tackled him. The Blues still had the ball but Tuipulotu knocked on. Five metres from his line Sefa Naivalu picked up the ball, got past Francis and 95 metres downfield scored under the posts. 36-30 with 12 minutes to play.

A penalty gave the Rebels a five-metre line-out and they did one of their four-man line-outs again with a maul joined by other players. BVut the maul splintered as they got close to the line and they were penalised for obstruction. The Blues survived to win while the Rebels suffered their fourth defeat of the season.

Man of the Match: Sean McMahon was outstanding for the Rebels but the candidates were Blues – Lolagi Visinia who enjoys playing so much, forceful George Moala, elusive Tevita Li and our choice big, strong, effective Steven Luatua.

The scorers:

For the Blues:

Tries: Parsons, Kaino, Faumuina, West, Li, Visinia

Cons: West 2, Francis

For the Rebels:

Tries: Hodge, Reid, Fainga'a, Naivalu

Cons: Debreczeni 2

Pens: Debreczeni 2

Teams:

Blues: 15 Lolagi Visinia, 14 Rieko Ioane, 13 George Moala, 12 Piers Francis, 11 Tevita Li, 10 Ihaia West, 9 Bryn Hall, 8 Steven Luatua, 7 Tanerau Latimer, 6 Jerome Kaino, 5 Josh Bekhuis, 4 Patrick Tuipulotu, 3 Charlie Faumuina, 2 James Parsons (captain), 1 Sam Prattley.

Replacements: 16 Quentin MacDonald, 17 Nic Mayhew, 18 Ofa Tu'ungafasi, 19 Akira Ioane, 20 Kara Pryor, 21 Billy Guyton, 22 Matt McGahan, 23 Melani Nanai/Matt Duffie.

Melbourne Rebels: 15 Jonah Placid, 14 Sefa Naivalu, 13 Reece Hodge, 12 Tamati Ellison, 11 Cam Crawford , 10 Jack Debreczeni, 9 Nic Stirzaker (captain), 8 Adam Thomson, 7 Sean McMahon, 6 Jordy Reid, 5 Sam Jeffries, 4 Luke Jones, 3 Jamie Hagan, 2 James Hanson, 1 Toby Smith.

Replacements: 16 Pat Leafa, 17 Cruze Ah Nau, 18 Tim Metcher, 19 Culum Retallick, 20 Colby Fainga'a, 21 Ben Meehan, 22 Kotaro Matsushima, 23 Sione Tuipulotu.

Referee: Craig Joubert

Assistant referees: Glen Jackson, Brett Johnson

TMO: Ben Skeen

Blues edge 10-try thriller

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