The Highlanders lost their opening Super rugby match of the season in Auckland last night, going down 33-31 after leading 24-20 at the break.
The match was played in sweltering humid conditions more akin to a game of beach cricket than a helter-skelter game of rugby.
The handling was surprisingly impressive although the heat took its toll in the second half as both teams wilted somewhat.
The Highlanders never got enough ball throughout the match to be competitive.
The side started well and made metres with the ball in hand but was then pinned down for long periods in its own half.
When it did get the ball the visiting team looked dangerous but, particularly in the second half, the ball became a rare commodity for the Highlanders.
The Blues played with plenty of fire and made the most of some misreads in defence by the Highlanders.
There were a couple of sloppy errors from the Highlanders - missed lineouts and tackles - but that has to be expected in the stiffling conditions.
The Highlanders scored four tries but, in the brave new world of the expanded competition, they do not get a bonus point for that although they earn one for losing within seven points.
Ben Smith scored two tries for the Highlanders and looked dangerous with the ball in hand.
He scored his second try with two minutes left on the clock, giving the visiting team a sniff of victory.
However, the Higlandrs turned the ball over and their hopes were dashed.
Lima Sopoaga marked his 50th match for the franchise with some skilful kicking.
Loose forwards Elliot Dixon and Shane Christie ran themselves to a standstill in defence.
The Highlanders made a sound start and scored the first try of the new season in the eighth minute.
No8 Liam Squire charged through a gap to get his side over the advantage line and the team kept on rolling the ball up the line.
The ball then went to the right and Ben Smith squeezed through two defenders to score.
The Highlanders were making good metres with the ball in hand but the home team came back and replied with a try under the post by winger Melani Nanai.
A nice kick by Ihaia West into space was picked up on the fly by Blues fullback Lolagi Visinia and he drew the last defender to send Nanai over.
Sopoaga got his side back in front almost straight away with a penalty.
But rookie Blues flanker Blake Gibson then took a ball 22m out from the tryline and busted through a couple of defenders to score and put his side ahead.
But just over the half-hour mark, midfielder Tei Walden scored his first points at this level. Winger Waisake Naholo started the movement and Walden finished it off when he dummied the final man and went over.
That tied the scored up at 17-17 but in a high-scoring first half neither side was finished.
West kicked a penalty and, with less than two minutes left in the first half, the Highlanders scored their third try of the half.
The visiting team's backs ran the ball up to over halfway and, from the ensuring breakdown, halfback Aaron Smith chipped over the top.
Naholo chased hard and leapt brilliantly to take the ball down to score although he looked in front of the kick..
The conversion gave the Highlanders a 24-20 lead at the break.
In last night's other match, the Brumbies beat the Hurricanes 52-10 in Canberra.
Highlanders v Blues
The scores
Blues 33
Melani Nanai, Blake Gibson, Patrick Tuipulotutries; Ihaia West 3 con, 4 pen
Highlanders 31
Ben Smith 2, Tei Walden, Waisake Naholo tries; Lima Sopoaga 3 con, pen; Hayden Parker con.
Halftime: 24-20 Highlanders
Crowd: 21, 983
