The Hurricanes have claimed their first win of the Super Rugby season, but it's come at a cost.
Last year's runners-up beat the Blues 23-19 at Eden Park but they lost All Blacks winger Nehe Milner-Skudder to a shoulder injury, prop Reggie Goodes to a head clash and loose forward Brad Shields to a thumb injury.
All Black winger Julian Savea also hobbled from the field late in the match.
Milner Skudder is likely to be sidelined for some time after dislocating his shoulder.
After losses to the ACT Brumbies and the Highlanders in their opening two games the Hurricanes finally managed a win in 2016.
The Hurricanes led 15-8 at halftime despite the Blues dominating territory and posession in the first quarter.
The Blues scored first through a penalty to Ihaia West although he didn't have a good night kicking missing his first two penalty attempts.
Winger Rene Ranger put the Blues 8-nil up when he somehow managed to dot down in the corner despite being tackled in the process.
Blues winger Rene Ranger somehow manages to evade the Hurricanes defence to score for the Blues. Photo: Photosport
That seemed to wake the Hurricanes up and after turning down a penalty opportunity to finally get on the scoreboard opted to kick to touch and strong subsequent lineout drive paid dividends with number eight Victor Vito scoring.
First five Beauden Barrett added the coversion to make it 8-7.
A typical Hurricanes try followed after a turnover at halfway was moved along the backline with All Black winger Nehe Milner-Skudder then kicking ahead for TJ Perenara to dot down to make it 12-8 to the Hurricanes.
A penalty to Barrett took it out to 15-8 at halftime.
The Blues scored first in the second half with a try to George Moala to reduce to the deficit to 15-13 but West was unable to add the conversion.
Discipline was costly for the Blues giving away penalties and while Barrett wasn't having the best night goal kicking either it did give the Hurricanes field possession.
That was how they extended the lead to 23-13 with All Black halfback TJ Perenara skirting around the side of an attacking ruck to score.
The Blues thought they had played their way back into the match when winger Tevita Lee broke through the Hurriacane defence with a scything run to score only for the television match official to overule the try on a forward pass.
A penalty to the Blues then brought them to within seven points of the Hurricanes making it 23-16 to the visitors.
Another Ihaia West penalty then took the Blues to 23-19 with ten minutes to play.
The win over the Blues may have come at a cost for the Hurricanes with All Black winger Nehe Milner-Skudder forced off the field with an injury. Photo: Photosport
Desperate defence saved the Hurricanes in the final ten minutes as the Blues, despite a series of penalties and the sinbinning of Vito, were unable to breach the visitors defence one more time as they chased a match winning try.
See how the game unfolded here:
