It's the Lions first loss in the 10-match series after just scraping past the Provincial Barbarians in Whangarei just four days ago.
The Lions controlled territory and possession in the first few minutes of the game in front of a 40,639-strong crowd, but the Blues were first to score off the back of some patient attack that started in their own half.
The visitors tried to put the Blues under pressure early, coming off their defensive line with a great deal of urgency but the Blues quickly found an overlap 20m out that resulted in five points to winger Reiko Ioane.
