A second-half fightback from the Blues has denied the Highlanders a first Super Rugby Pacific victory of 2022.
Even after losing three first-string players on gameday to COVID-19, the Blues still had too much for the Highlanders, winning 32-20 at Albany - their second straight victory and more convincing that last week's result over the Chiefs.
Down 13-3 at halftime, the Blues rallied in the second half to score four tries, as a double from rookie Taine Plumtree, and one apiece to Rieko Ioane and Stephen Perofeta proved too much for the Highlanders.
The win temporarily lifts the Blues into fourth on the Super Rugby Pacific standings, after their first three matches - albeit with a game in hand, after their season-opener against Moana Pasifika was postponed.
Meanwhile, the Highlanders will need to go back to the drawing board, winless from their first four matches, with defeats to the four other New Zealand sides to sit 10th.
As the two sides traded penalties in the opening stages, the only try of the first half was a penalty try, with a resulting yellow card awarded against Luke Romano for collapsing a maul on the Blues line.
Even with a man advantage, the Highlanders couldn't make the most of their superior numbers, as the first half ended at 13-3 in the visitors' favour.
After the break, the Blues performance came to life and they dominated the second 40 minutes.
Playing in place of the injured Tom Robinson, Plumtree made his case for a regular berth in the Blues No.6 jersey, scoring just minutes into the second spell.
Crossing once after a one-two exchange with captain Dalton Papalii, the 22-year-old had a second try in the space of seven minutes, set loose by an offload from Mark Telea.
After watching the young forward put their side back into the lead for the first time since an early 3-0 advantage, the Blues backs decided to join the party.
Playing in place of Beauden Barrett - withdrawn before kick-off - Perofeta orchestrated the Blues' third try. Telea won a clever kick over the top and found Bryce Heem with an offload, that put Rieko Ioane away to score another.
The Highlanders threatened a late comeback, as Shannon Frizell crossed over for a try in the 76th minute, but Perofeta sealed the deal and crashed over from close range two minutes before fulltime.
Comical scenes at the end of the match saw more than 10 minutes of additional time played, as both sides hunted a bonus-point try.
Caleb Clarke looked to have scored it for the Blues, after intecepting a pass from Mitch Hunt, but the video official disallowed it for a high tackle from replacement halfback Taufa Funaki on Marty Banks.
Blues 32 (Plumtree 2, Ioane, Perofeta tries; Perofeta 3 conversions & penalty, Sullivan penalty) Highlanders 20 (Penalty try, Frizell try; Hunt conversion & 2 penalties)
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