Nick Evans returned to his old stamping ground in style, scoring the Blues' first 21 points in their 40-15 Super 14 rugby win over the Highlanders at Carisbrook.

The bonus-point victory enabled the Blues to make a serious bid for the semi-finals when they host the Hurricanes at Eden Park next Friday.

Former Otago and Highlanders first five-eighth Evans, who announced this week that he was off to play for English club Harlequins at the end of this season until mid-2011, scored two tries and kicked three penalties and a conversion in their 26-3 halftime lead.

He added another conversion before retiring in the last quarter.

The Blues, showing the type of game that had convinced most New Zealand fans that they would be serious title contenders early in the season, scored five tries to two.

They took the wind out of the Highlanders by halftime with a strong scrum and by committing them to numerous tackles.

Though the Highlanders' formed their usual solid defence, their first-up tackles were rather poor.

Halfback Taniela Moa serviced the backline efficiently and Blues turned the Highlanders constantly.

Evans, who continued at fullback, with Isa Nacewa remaining at five-eighth, gave his team an ideal start with three penalties for their 9-0 lead in the first quarter.

Highlanders five-eighth Mike Delany missed his first shot at goal but succeeded with his second before Evans raced in for his two tries.

Both tries followed lineouts, with the second coming after props Tony Woodcock and John Afoa featured in attacking runs before Evans was put through.

The Blues' third try was the result of a bad pass back over the goal area by centre Aaron Bancroft. The Blues twisted the ensuing five-metre scrum and Moa fed speeding winger Rudi Wulf on the short side for a clear run to the line.

The Highlanders eventually showed their wonderful attacking skills with two quick tries by Bancroft and blindside flanker and national sevens player Adam Thomson.

Halfback Jimmy Cowan and centre Johnny Leota were key contributors both times.

Despite the Blues' lead being cut to 26-15, they were in no danger of losing the game.

Centre Anthony Tuitavake delivered their bonus-point fourth try in the 67th minute, using his trademark "chop-back" run against the current before straightening up to score and winger David Smith scored the fifth when the Highlanders had forward Chris King in the sin-bin.

"We talked about it all week. We came down here to do a job, we did it and we're still in (the competition)," Evans said.

"Our job was (to get) five points. We knew to give ourselves a shot at the title we needed a bit of momentum. We needed five points and got it."

Blues captain Troy Flavell said his team knew it was crunch time.

"That win was vital for us," Flavell said.

Highlanders captain Craig Newby stopped short of criticising referee Chris Pollock.

"The rub of the green didn't go our way tonight,' he said.

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