The Blues secured a bonus point 32-21 win over the Highlanders in a Super Rugby Aotearoa clash in Dunedin on Sunday.

The result means that the Aucklanders are now just three points behind the table-topping Crusaders, who do have a game in hand. 

The Blues, who took a 24-16 lead into half-time, ran in five tries to just two from their hosts with scrumhalf Finlay Christie scoring twice.  

More to follow ... 

Scorers:

Highlanders 21 (16)

Tries: Ash Dixon, Shannon Frizell

Conversions: Josh Ioane

Penalties: Ioane (3)

Blues 32 (24) 

Tries: Akira Ioane, Finlay Christie (2), TJ Faiane, Ofa Tu’ungafasi

Conversions: Beauden Barrett (2)

Penalties: Barrett.

Teams:

Highlanders

15 Mitch Hunt, 14 Josh McKay, 13 Michael Collins, 12 Patelesio Tomkinson, 11 Scott Gregory, 10 Josh Ioane, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Marino Mikaele Tu’u, 7 Shannon Frizell, 6 Dillon Hunt, 5 Jack Whetton, 4 Pari Pari Parkinson, 3 Jeff  Thwaites, 2 Ash Dixon, 1 Ayden Johnstone

Substitutes: 16 Liam Coltman, 17 Ethan de Groot, 18 Siate Tokolahi, 19 Manaaki Selby-Rickit, 20 Jesse Parete, 21 Folau Fakatava, 22 Bryn Gatland, 23 Jona Nareki.

Blues

15 Matt Duffie, 14 Mark Telea, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 TJ Faiane, 11 Caleb Clarke, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Finlay Christie, 8 Akira Ioane, 7 Blake Gibson, 6 Dalton Papalii, 5 Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, 4 Patrick Tuipulotu (c), 3 Ofa Tu’ungafasi, 2 Kurt Eklund, 1 Karl Tu’inukuafe.

Substitutes: 16 Luteru Tolai, 17 Alex Hodgman, 18 Sione Mafileo, 19 Josh Goodhue, 20 Tony Lamborn, 21 Sam Nock, 22 Otere Black, 23 Harry Plummer.