Sunsoaked Eketahuna Rugby Club was treated to a day of running rugby on Saturday where the Hurricanes and Blues combined to score eight tries during their Investec Super Rugby preseason match.
Tries to wing Julian Savea and hooker Leni Apisai couldn't prevent the Hurricanes from losing 40-12 but several thousand fans still left the Tui and PGG Wrightson sponsored event with smiles on their faces.
With the scores tied 7-7 at halftime, the Blues scored three tries in 10 minutes after the break before wing Lolagi Visinia finished the match with a long range intercept try to inflate the score line.
Putting the result aside, the Hurricanes second preseason match of 2016 provided valuable game time for the squad's World Cup All Blacks who were playing for the first time since the Rugby World Cup final last year.
With a strong starting side running out for kick off coach Chris Boyd would have been encouraged to see his side create early chances with some good structure, but will be asking for more polish after handling errors spoiled several promising attacks.
The Hurricanes started strongly with an early interchange between first five Beauden Barrett and second five Ngani Laumape sparking a long range attack, but conceded the first try of the match when Blues hooker and captain for the day James Parsons crashed over to give his side an early 7-0 lead.
Laumape enjoyed some strong moments early in what was his first match back in rugby union since switching to rugby league shortly after leaving school to join the Warriors in the NRL.
Likewise new Hurricanes lock Michael Fatialofa would have been pleased with a strong showing in the second row against a Blues pack featuring many of his Auckland provincial teammates.
Replacement centre Willis Halaholo provided a first half highlight when he broke the Blues defence to set up a try to young hooker Leni Apisai shortly before halftime, first five Beauden Barrett slotting the conversion from the sideline to tie the scores at 7-all.
Unfortunately the Hurricanes suffered several injuries on the day with starting centre Matt Proctor (knee), hooker Motu Matu'u (calf) and prop Ben May (shoulder) all ruled out of the team's final preseason match against the Crusaders in Blenheim on Friday.
With injuries mounting and subs rolling on and off, the Hurricanes lost focus after the break as the Blues scored three tries in ten minutes, Steven Luatua, Nic Mayhew and Charlie Faumuina all crossing the line as the visitor's built a 28-7 lead.
The Hurricanes effort never dropped off and after Rene Ranger had scored his side's fifth try, the home crowd would have appreciated the sight of Savea sprinting 60 metres for a try with five minutes to play to dot down in the corner.
Boyd said injuries had provided an early test of his squad's depth, but wouldn't affect their momentum heading into the start of the season.
"You know that in a Super competition you're not going to get away with [using] 23 or 25 or 28 players.
"You're going to have to call on your depth at some stage and, at the moment, our depth is being tested and we'll have to go back and look at what we've got for the Crusaders next week and roll our sleeves up and go to work."
Hurricanes 12 (Leni Apisai, Julian Savea tries; Beauden Barrett con) Blues 40 (James Parsons, Steven Luatua, Nic Mayhew, Charlie Faumuina, Rene Ranger, Lolagi Visinia tries; Ihaia West con, Matt McGahan 4 con). HT: 7-7.