Patrick Pellegrini of Moana Pasifika, Moana Pasifika v Blues, round 14 of the Super Rugby Pacific competition at North Harbour Stadium, Auckland, New Zealand on Saturday 17 May 2025. © Photo: Andrew Cornaga / Photosport Photo: Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nz
A clutch Ardie Savea turnover has seen Moana finally knock off their cross-city brothers the Blues 27-21 in an epic encounter in Albany.
Needing a converted try to win it with the siren having sounded, the Blues hammered away at the Moana line until their inspirational skipper sealed the famous victory with one of the more meaningful pilfers of his career.
Down by three at halftime, Moana surged home with a hat-trick to winger Kyren Taumoefolau to take much deserved bragging rights and well and truly keep their play off hopes alive.
Taumoefolau was electric on the left wing side, and will have catapulted himself into All Black conversation on the back of tonight's performance.
There was plenty of drama on the shore, a Moana try scrubbed due to a foot in touch several phases earlier, Blues flanker Anton Segner was carted off after a brutal head clash, and Moana leapfrogging their so called 'big brothers' into the top six.
The Blues managed the same number of tries as Moana, but it was the boot of Patrick Pellegrini which ultimately proved the difference in the battle for the 09.
An historic night for Moana.
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Team lists
Moana Pasifika: 1. Tito Tuipulotu, 2. Millennium Sanerivi, 3. Feleti Sae-Ta'ufo'ou, 4. Tom Savage, 5. Samuel Slade, 6. Miracle Faiilagi, 7. Ardie Savea (c), 8. Semisi Tupou Ta'eiloa, 9. Jonathan Taumateine, 10. Patrick Pellegrini, 11. Kyren Taumoefolau, 12. Danny Toala, 13. Lalomilo Lalomilo, 14. Tevita Ofa, 15. William Havili
Bench: 16. Samiuela Moli, 17. Abraham Pole, 18. Chris Apoua, 19. Allan Craig, 20. Sione Havili Talitui, 21. Melani Matavao, 22. Jackson Garden-Bachop, 23. Julian Savea
Blues: 1. Joshua Fusitu'a, 2. Ricky Riccitelli, 3. Angus Ta'avao, 4. Patrick Tuipulotu, 5. Josh Beehre, 6. Adrian Choat, 7. Dalton Papali'i, 8. Hoskins Sotutu, 9. Taufa Funaki, 10. Beauden Barrett, 11. Caleb Clarke, 12. Xavi Taele, 13. Rieko Ioane, 14. AJ Lam, 15. Corey Evans
Bench: 16. Kurt Eklund, 17. Mason Tupaea, 18. Marcel Renata, 19. Laghlan McWhannell, 20. Cam Christie, 21. Finlay Christie, 22. Harry Plummer, 23. Cole Forbes
