Blues Mark Tele'a scores in the corner. Photo: John Cowpland
The Blues are on the board, with Mark Tele'a's stunning try in the 71st minute was ultimately the difference in a 33-28 win over the Hurricanes at Sky Stadium.
The defending champions' All Black contingent had been quiet throughout the game, before bursting into life with Beauden Barrett and Caleb Clarke combining to send Tele'a down the other wing for a spectacular finish.
Despite a red card to Hoskins Sotutu and a late charge by the home side, the Blues hung on with a goal-line stand in rather controversial circumstances when referee Angus Gardner held up play for several minutes to determine if the visitors could make a substitution.
It was the Harry Godfrey show for the Hurricanes in the first half, with the first five scoring all 19 points through four penalties and a converted try.
The impressive youngster added a conversion of Kini Naholo's try and another penalty goal in the second half, which looked to have been enough before Tele'a's heroics.
The Blues started strongly with a penalty try off a dominant scrum, then Ricky Ricciteli scored off a strong run by Patrick Tuipulotu. Sotutu scored his first try of the season but it's fair to say that the game was pretty sloppy in patches between the tries.
As well as Sotutu's red card, the Blues may well be missing Dalton Papli'i for next weekend too after the All Black flanker left the field with an HIA.
Still, it meant the Blues could finally celebrate a win after two disappointing losses to start the season. They face the Brumbies at Eden Park on Friday, while the Hurricanes take their bye week.
Read how the game unfolded with RNZ's live blog:
Team lists
Hurricanes: 1. Xavier Numia, 2. Raymond Tuputupu, 3. Pasilio Tosi, 4. Caleb Delany, 5. Isaia Walker-Leawere, 6. Brad Shields (cc), 7. Du'Plessis Kirifi (cc), 8. Peter Lakai, 9. Cam Roigard, 10. Harry Godfrey, 11. Kini Naholo, 12. Peter Umaga-Jensen, 13. Bailyn Sullivan, 14. Fatafehi Fineanganofo, 15. Kade Banks
Bench: 16. Jacob Devery, 17. Pouri Rakete-Stones, 18. Tevita Mafileo, 19. Hugo Plummer, 20. Brayden Iose, 21. Ereatara Enari, 22. Riley Hohepa, 23. Ngatungane Punivai
Blues: 1. Ofa Tu'ungafasi, 2. Ricky Riccitelli, 3. Marcel Renata, 4. Patrick Tuipulotu (c), 5. Josh Beehre, 6. Cameron Suafoa, 7. Dalton Papali'i, 8. Hoskins Sotutu, 9. Finlay Christie, 10. Harry Plummer, 11. Caleb Clarke, 12. AJ Lam, 13. Rieko Ioane, 14. Mark Tele'a, 15. Beauden Barrett
Bench: 16. James Mullan, 17. Joshua Fusitu'a, 18. Angus Ta'avao, 19. Cam Christie, 20. Anton Segner, 21. Sam Nock, 22. Corey Evans, 23. Cole Forbes
