Super Rugby Pacific tabletoppers Chiefs have extended their winning start to the season, with a tense 20-13 win over the Blues at Hamilton.
Winger Emoni Narawa needed less than 30 seconds to put the home side ahead, chasing a kick from first-five Damian McKenzie and barely sneaking over in the corner.
Both teams scored two tries, but the difference was probably the tries (and kicks) that weren't scored, with the Blues crossing the line three more times, without adding to their score.
The northern raiders have ample opportunity to reverse the result, but lacked the accuracy at crucial times to finish off those chances, while the Chiefs played with the confidence of team that lead the competition into a bye week.
The Blues never lead, but despite the slow start, could have nosed ahead during the first half, when first-five Beauden Barrett appeared to have scored a try from a close range scrum. As he tried to promote the ball closer to the posts, Barrett was pursued by Chiefs lock Tupou Vaa'i and stepped on the deadball line, before he could force the ball.
In an enthralling head-to-head match-up against McKenzie in the No.10 jerseys, the All Blacks veteran probably came off second best, shanking an early conversion attempt, blowing the try, then shanking another conversion.
Even with an able back-up in Stephen Perofeta available, captain Dalton Papalii opted for attacking lineouts - an Achilles heel to his team this season - instead of kicks at goal, with the Blues unable to convert any into points.
By contrast, McKenzie slotted two sideline conversions to both tries by Narawa and added a penalty from inside his own half, as well as dictating play with his tactical kicking.
The Blues' best moments came from the scrum, with hooker Ricky Riccitelli answering Narawa's early score from a set-piece near the line.
Barrett's faux pas followed another scrum win, while winger Caleb Clarke leveled the scores at 10-10 moments later, after another attacking scrum.
Narawa had his second five-pointer, when hooker Samisoni Taukei'aho burst from a lineout maul inside the Blues 22 and when the ball went right, the winger stretched out to score.
The Chiefs led 17-10 at halftime and neither side could add more than a penalty apiece over the final 40 minutes, but the Blues went closest, when centre Rieko Ioane lost the ball over the line and Papalii was held up in the corner.
They were still battering at the Chiefs goal-line over the closing minutes, desperately trying to find a converted try to force extra time, but the contest ended, when Clarke could not handle a pass metres out.
Chiefs co-captain Brad Weber admits the performance made up for the 25-0 drubbing they suffered last season at home.
"It was good to put the donut away after a few seconds," he quipped. "To be honest, we owed these guys one, after last year - they embarrassed us on our home turf.
"I think you could see the desperation in the second half. That's what that was all about, so a fantastic effort, really."
As early-season injuries pile up on the national selectors, they would have had hearts in their mouths, when both Barrett and All Blacks skipper Sam Cane stayed down, after a collision. Barrett bounced to his feet, but Cane eventually walked gingerly off the field, after copping a knee to a sensitive part of a man's anatomy.
The Chiefs have next week off, while the Blues must regroup against Melbourne Rebels on Saturday.
Chiefs 20 (Narawa 2 tries; McKenzie 2 conversions & 2 penalties) Blues 13 (Riccitelli & Clarke tries; Barrett penalty)
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