This archive report was first published on 20 June 2020.
On a rainy Saturday in Hamilton, the Auckland Blues secured a historic 24-12 win over the Waikato Chiefs, marking their first victory at the Chiefs' stadium since 2011.
With a near-capacity crowd of over 23,000 in attendance, the match saw both teams attempt adventurous rugby, but it was the steadying influence of Beauden Barrett that ultimately made the difference.
Until Barrett took over the kicking duties for the Blues with 16 minutes remaining, the margin between the two sides had never exceeded four points. However, he rapidly extended the lead with a series of crucial shots at goal.
Barrett's drop goal and penalty kick broke the game open, setting the Blues up for their second consecutive victory in the revived competition. He opened the margin to 19-12 before Mark Telea sealed the outcome with a late try.
Reflecting on his performance, Barrett said, 'There was nothing on in terms of running with the ball in hand so I just sat back and hit it, and it's one of those things. It's game awareness.'
For the Chiefs, it was their second loss in the competition, following their defeat to the Highlanders the previous week. Despite the setback, Chiefs captain Aaron Cruden remained optimistic, stating, 'We've had fantastic training sessions and we've been prepared really well, but it's just being able to execute under pressure.'
