15 Apr 2013

Blues genuine playoff contenders; Crusaders beaten

12:20 pm on 15 April 2013

The Blues have shown they're genuine Super Rugby play-off contenders in humbling the Hurricanes 28-6 in Auckland on Saturday night.

The Blues ran in four tries to none and are now second in the New Zealand conference and fifth overall.

The Crusaders have slumped to a surprise 16-14 loss to the Western Force in Perth and sit above only the winless Highlanders in the New Zealand conference.

The match was marred by several spectators running onto the pitch late in the game, with Crusaders back Ryan Crotty tackling one of them and a medical officer another one.

In Cape Town the Stormers beat fellow South African side the Sharks 22-15 while in the other South African derby, the Bulls had a 26-20 win over the Cheetahs.

In Melbourne, the South African-based Southern Kings had a 30-27 win over the Rebels.

The ACT Brumbies sit at the top of the competition overall with the Chiefs in second place, despite their 31-23 home loss to the Queensland Reds in Hamilton.