Caleb Clarke’s three tries lifted the Auckland-based Blues to a 41-10 win over Hamilton’s Chiefs in an all-New Zealand Tremendous Rugby Pacific ultimate.
Clarke struck within the first half, serving to the Blues run out to a 20-3 lead by half-time, and continued in effective kind scoring twice extra within the second half.
The Blues dominated in wet situations to win a Tremendous Rugby title for the primary time since 2003.
Akira Ioane scored the Blues’ first attempt, supplied the final cross in Clarke’s second attempt, and received the line-out which led to Clarke’s third attempt, earlier than leaving the sector to a standing ovation within the 78th minute.
“That was a tough one and we had so many boys who stepped up,” Clarke mentioned. “It was a big occasion, especially for Akira, the coaches who have come in for the first time and a group that has been together for so long,” Clarke mentioned.
“It’s going to take a while to sink in but we finally got the job done.”
Blues’ captain Patrick Tuipulotu performed by way of a knee damage from two weeks in the past, and his frequent carries had been a big a part of the Blues’ dominant efficiency, earlier than he limped off the sector within the 58th minute.
Former Scotland and Fiji coach Vern “Stern Vern” Cotter has been credited with reworking the Blues this season, and bringing a ruthlessness that had been lacking.
Chiefs skipper Luke Jacobson mentioned: “Credit to the Blues, they came out and set it from the get-go and made it very difficult for us.”
