On a frenetic Friday night in Hamilton, the Chiefs were forced fight for every inch against their northern neighbours. The Blues came with the gloves on, ready for a scrap, and were only counted out late in the 12th round.

It was far from a knockout result. Brodie Retallick scored the definitive blow three minutes from time to seal the five-tries-to-two 29-23 victory, but in the wash up it may be the Blues who take the most from this Super Rugby match, despite suffering their 10th loss on the trot to the Chiefs.

Seta Tamanivalu scoring a try in the second half. Photos: Tracy Hardy.

In a match that seemingly pitted New Zealand's best team against its worst this season, the final margin was much less than many expected. If the Blues had only harnessed slightly more accuracy, they may well have pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the year. Yes, they really went that close.

Certainly, the spirited Blues bussed over the Bombay Hills and down state highway one to rub some of the invincible glow off a Chiefs side that dismantled a quality Brumbies side in Canberra last week. While they did not get the result, they deserve credit for rising to the challenge against this year's title favourites - and get a losing bonus point for their efforts.

This contest only served to emphasise just how brutally combative and keenly fought the Kiwi conference is, especially compared with some of the tripe that's dished up by many of Super Rugby's other teams.

Champions find a way to hang tough and get out of trouble even when not at their best. Under pressure, Aaron Cruden again stepped up with a solo second half try that turned the tide and ensured his side made it five wins in a row. They now enter a welcome bye week, having won matches in four different countries in the past month. It will be a chance for the likes of Charlie Ngatai, who suffered a shoulder injury, to rest up.

The Chiefs may have had an easier night had it not been for Damian McKenzie's struggles off the tee. The in-form utility missed three of five conversions - and a one-on-one tackle in Rieko Ioane's try. McKenzie still showcased his dynamic skills on attack, heady kicking options and courage under the high ball, but it wasn't his best performance of the season.

Tana Umaga will be disappointed but take the positives. He watched his men explode out of the blocks in the second half with back-to-back tries to Melani Nanai, the fullback producing two brilliant steps on this way to the line, and the impressive Rieko Ioane.

The 20,990 crowd were temporarily stunned.

But for a second time this year - after being unable to close out the match against the Hurricanes - Umaga will be frustrated the Blues could not capitalise on much of their good work.

It was a strange game in some ways. The Blues controlled much of the ball - with over double the rucks in the first half and triple the number of defenders beaten. For large periods they constructed phases well to build pressure. Jerome Kaino made a surprise return from his shoulder injury and had one big charge off the kickoff before being replaced by Akira Ioane, who added impact for the second half.

George Moala, after coming on for Piers Francis in the 10th minute, offered power with ball in hand. Rene Ranger was involved constantly, and Rieko Ioane injected pace every time touched ball.

The Blues tactic of using the width, with Rieko Ioane regularly exploiting space on the edge, drove them forward. Too often, the last pass of a good movement would go astray. Or a wee fumble stifled a threatening attack. Accuracy remained their Achilles heel. Sometimes they were guilty of being too lateral with their attack; too easy for defensive runners to pick off.

Otherwise, the Blues were hard to fault. They played with commitment but couldn't stick with the Chiefs down the stretch.

Every time the Chiefs got the chance they sprung into lethal counter attack mode, as they've done all season. Every turnover, they immediately look to run. It brought rewards in the form of tries Mitchell Graham and Shaun Stevenson. Each time the lead up to those strikes involved numerous offloads. Passes would be popped into space and the Chiefs just expected someone to be there. Almost every time they were, too. That's their game. They don't need mountains of possession to break you down. They back themselves to create and take the opportunities they need.

In essence that was the difference between the two teams. Finishing - and a disparity in confidence levels. Ultimately that comes from winning, something the Chiefs are developing a habit of.

Scorers:

Chiefs 29 (Mitchell Graham, Shaun Stevenson, Aaron Cruden, Seta Tamanivalu, Brodie Retallick tries; Damian McKenzie 2 con) Blues 23 (Melani Nanai, Rieko Ioane tries; Ihaia West 3 pen, 2 con).

HT: 10-6.

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