The Blues have got their 2006 Rebel Sport Super 14 campaign back on track with a 26-15 demolishing of the highly favoured Brumbies at Eden Park.
The home side raced away to an 18-0 lead at half-time after a mixed opening 40 minutes and then added another try in the second term to seal the victory.
The Brumbies could consider themselves unlucky with the magnitude of their losing margin after a performance that was far from bad.
The visiting Australian franchise's only flaw was that it failed to capitalise on a number of scoring opportunities, while the hosts made the most of nearly everything that came their way.
Six minutes into the contest Blues fullback Isakela Nacewa gave his side the first points with a penalty goal courtesy of a Brumbies ruck infringement.
Brumbies wing Clyde Rathbone continued his scintillating run of form and proved more than a handful for the Blues' defence on a number of occasions.
In the 13th minute the young speedster made an incisive run through the home side's gaping backline before off-loading to fullback Adam Ashley-Cooper, who came within inches of the line before being cut down.
This sparked a strong period of Brumbies attack but it was the home side that looked to have scored against the run of play several minutes later.
A dropped ball from Brumbies lock Alister Campbell 10m from the Blues line resulted in a breakaway downfield by Blues centre Anthony Tuitavake.
The North Harbour try-sneak flung a ball wide for wing Joe Rokocoko but the scrambling Brumbies defence managed to keep them out, also holding up a drive by Blues lock Ali Williams in the subsequent play.
However, it was only a matter of time before a try would come and when a resurgent Troy Flavell was driven over the line less than two minutes later, the Blues were in for the match's first touch down.
The Blues were soon leading 10-0 after another Brumbies offence deep inside their own territory, which was punished by Nacewa's boot.
The visitors had a chance to get on the board shortly after but wing Mark Gerrard's radar was off as he sprayed a penalty attempt wide from 40m out.
Some Tuitavake brilliance then gave the Blues their second try of the night after the centre evaded a number of Brumbies tacklers to slide 40m to the goalline on the back of a turnover exacted by Blues first five-eighths Tasesa Lavea to conclude the first half.
The Blues signalled their intentions early in the second half and quickly bolted to a 21-0 lead when Nacewa slotted over another penalty goal three minutes in.
However, the Brumbies outfit quickly turned the tide and was soon rewarded with a try to Rathbone under the sticks after a lengthy period of attacking rugby.
The visitors had a chance to reduce the margin in the 56th minute but again Gerrard's boot was misguided.
Despite the Brumbies' hard-toil on both attack and defence, Tuitavake again proved to be the danger man and when he broke the line 60 minutes into the contest, before passing to Nacewa for another try, the match looked all but decided.
A consolation try was scored by substitute Joel Wilson in the dying minutes after he was unmarked out on the wing but it proved to be a case of too little too late for the visitors.