The Blues have kept pace with the top of the table with a 40-15 win over the Fijian Drua at Eden Park.

Their forward pack was the difference as hooker Bradley Slater scored twice as they saw off a determined Drua outfit.

The hosts were eager to start amid a host of players out and Malachi Wrampling got the hosts off to a flyer after slamming the ball down in the sixth minute.

But the Fijian Drua were motivated to rid their away form woes as they answered straight back through Etonia Waqa from close.

Obstruction from the kick-off hurt the Drua, giving the hosts a chance to hit straight back.

Hooker Slater took the offer with both hands, diving over via the rolling maul, which was dominant throughout the contest.

This failed to deter the Drua, who kept pressing the Blues' line through Waqa and Ponipate Longanimasi.

Waqa’s late first-half break reduced the Blues' lead to 14-12 at the break when lock Mesake Vocevoce dived over with five minutes left in the half.

A penalty goal to Kemu Valetini gave them the unlikely lead to start the second half.

However, Slater struck for his second, again diving over from the rolling maul as the weight of penalties against the Drua started to take its toll.

Codemeru Vai came off the bench and made a major impact, combining with young gun Payton Spencer to extend the lead.

Spencer then sealed the win with a brilliant length-of-the-field try with 15 minutes to go.

It started with a turnover from Che Clark right on their line, with the quick shift finding Beauden Barrett, turning it back inside for Finlay Christie to kick ahead for the son of Blues legend Carlos.

Caleb Clarke sealed the win and the bonus point with a try in the corner as the siren sounded.

The bonus point win keeps the Blues in touch with the Hurricanes at the top of the ladder, sitting second on points difference.

Meanwhile, the Drua sit in ninth of the ladder, still searching for their first win over the Blues.

Blues 40 (Tries: Slater 2, Wrampling, Spencer, Clarke, Vai; Cons: Barrett 5) def Fijiana Drua 15 (Tries: Waqa, Vocevoce; Cons: Valetini; Pens: Valetini)

Teams

Blues: 15 Payton Spencer, 14 Cole Forbes, 13 AJ Lam, 12 Pita Akhi, 11 Caleb Clarke,10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Taufa Funaki, 8 Malachi Wrampling, 7 Anton Segner, 6 Torian Barnes, 5 Sam Darry (captain), 4 Josh Beehre, 3 Marcel Renata, 2 Bradley Slater, 1 Ofa Tu’ungafasi
Replacements: 16 James Mullan, 17 Mason Tupaea, 18 Sam Matenga, 19 Che Clark, 20 Jed Melvin, 21 Finlay Christie, 22 Xaci Taele, 23 Codemeru Vai

Fijian Drua: 15 Iliasia Droasese, 14 Epeli Momo, 13 Tuidraki Samusamuvodre, 12 Iosefo Namoce, 11 Ponipate Loganimasi, 10 Kemu Valetini, 9 Frank Lomani (captain), 8 Elia Canakaivata, 7 Kitione Salawa, 6 Etonia Waqa, 5 Mesake Vocevoce, 4 Isoa Nasilasila, 3 Mesake Doge, 2 Zuriel Togiatama, 1 Haereiti Hetet
Replacements: 16 Mesulame Dolokolo, 17 Emosi Tuqiri, 18 Peni Ravai, 19 Joseva Tamani, 20 Isoa Tuwai, 21 Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, 22 Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula, 23 Virimi Vakatawa

Referee: Reuben Keane
Assistant referees: Nic Berry, Jordan Way
TMO: Brett Cronin