The Melbourne Rebels were unable to snap their depressing trend of late losses when they fell to the Blues 36-32 in their Super Rugby clash on Saturday night.
The Rebels looked down and out after a disappointing first half at Eden Park as they trailed the Blues 29-10, with winger Frank Halai crossing for a hat-trick.
But Melbourne shot out of the blocks in the second 40 minutes, shifting momentum their way through tries to centres Lachlan Mitchell and Mitch Inman, which was his second of the night.
They took advantage of some lazy defence by the Blues, who appeared on target for a big win, to get within four points at 29-25.
However, All Black Rene Ranger stemmed the flood when he crossed in the 72nd minute.
Rebels fullback Jason Woodward scored after the fulltime hooter for his side’s fifth try to bank a well-earned second bonus point.
But the Rebels will be ruing some poor goalkicking that could have turned the result.
Wallaby James O’Connor missed two penalties and one conversion before leaving the field midway through the first half with a suspected sternum injury.
Taking over the kicking duties, Woodward failed with two conversion attempts.
It was the fourth successive match that the Rebels have been in the hunt but ultimately failed to get the win.
Last week, they almost toppled the defending champion Chiefs.
O’Connor’s injury could put him in doubt for the Test series against the touring British and Irish Lions, with an initial 25-man squad to be named on May 18.
O’Connor first appeared troubled by the injury 21 minutes into the match but played on.
Four minutes later, he was slammed onto his back by a rampaging Ranger as he set up a try for centre Frances Saili, which was his second of the opening 40 minutes.
The Rebels suffered another blow just minutes after O’Connor’s departure when replacement five-eighth Angus Roberts dislocated his shoulder.
The absence of that duo meant 20-year-old Bryce Hegarty earned his Super Rugby debut.
Hard-running Inman was the Rebels’ best while skipper Scott Higginbotham and lock Hugh Pyle were also big performers.
The Blues climbed to second in the New Zealand conference and fifth overall.
