MATCH REPORT: Lee’s dream debut double lifts Crusaders in derby win

As Apollo Projects Stadium got ready to host one of its only remaining two Crusaders games left, a South Island derby with a bit of history already behind it this season was ready to get under way.  

The Highlanders arrived with confidence after a well-earned win against us  in Dunedin back in Round 1, while we were looking to steady our start to the campaign and make a statement at home.  

There was extra meaning in red and black too, with Chay Fihaki running out for his 50th Crusaders appearance on the wing and openside flanker Johnny Lee handed his debut start in the No.7 jersey. 

The Crusaders made the perfect start. After just four minutes the ball was worked to the right edge, Ethan Blackadder straightened the line before Braydon Ennor released Will Jordan into space.  

Jordan did the rest, gliding through a gap, then using his pace and strength to drag three Highlanders over the line for the opening try.  

Rivez Reihana couldn’t add the extras from out wide, but at 5–0 the early intent from the hosts was clear. 

The Highlanders responded the way they have all season – by playing with tempo.  

A scrum free kick on 20 minutes was taken quickly, Folau Fakatava turned the ball wide for Caleb Tangitau to slice over the 22.  

His well‑timed inside ball found Tanielu Tele’a in support and the centre finished under pressure to square things up.  

Cameron Millar’s conversion drifted wide into the sun, but the visitors had signalled they were here to stretch the Crusaders again. 

Ill‑discipline hurt the Crusaders through the middle of the first half. Codie Taylor was sent to the bin on 14 minutes for a cynical offside after chopping down Angus Ta’avao, gifting the Highlanders both field position and momentum.  

Jacob Ratumaitavuki‑Kneepkens was lively at the back, and after the Crusaders spilled a high kick on 27 minutes, the Highlanders pounced.  

Ta’avao punched straight through the middle close to halfway, drew the last defender and freed Ratumaitavuki‑Kneepkens on his outside to run in their second try.  

Millar’s conversion from near the left touchline made it 12–5 to the visitors. 

The Crusaders found a way to strike back. Sustained pressure inside the Highlanders 22 saw the ball whipped left, with Ennor dragged down just short. Noah Hotham went back to the big men, finding Fletcher Newell on a short line. The tighthead dropped his body height and powered through to score under the posts on 32 minutes, and Reihana’s simple conversion levelled things again at 12–12. 

It was the Highlanders who finished the half on top. After a messy lineout sequence, Millar twice pointed to the posts as the Crusaders were pinged at the breakdown. He first nudged them in front from near the 10m line, then added another from 23 metres out just right of the sticks after more pressure on the red and black defence.  

With David Havili forced off earlier with a leg complaint and Finlay Brewis shown yellow on 37 minutes for a high cleanout on Tomas Lavanini, the Crusaders went to the sheds under the pump and trailing 15–12. 

The second half opened with the Highlanders camping deep in Crusaders territory. A rolling maul off the lineout rumbled to within seven metres of the line, but the home pack managed to stall it and earn a crucial scrum.  

The reprieve was only temporary. On 46 minutes, after another offside call, Millar calmly knocked over a penalty from around 40 metres out to stretch the lead to 18–12 and keep the visitors in control of the scoreboard. 

From there, the night began to turn on two contrasting moments. First, a milestone soured when Chay Fihaki, in his 50th outing, was shown a yellow card on the hour mark for direct shoulder contact to Millar’s head after the Highlanders first five had released a pass.  

Millar departed for an HIA, and the Crusaders were back down to 14 men. Yet even with the numerical disadvantage, they found the spark that would decide the match – and it came from their debut No.7. 

On 50 minutes, a well‑constructed lineout maul 15 metres out provided the platform. Taylor hit his target at the front, Johnny Lee peeled off and linked with Blackadder, then stayed alive on the inside line. Blackadder dragged in defenders and popped the ball back for Lee to dive over for his first Crusaders try, cutting the margin to a single point.  

From close to the right touchline, Reihana nailed the conversion to put the Crusaders ahead 19–18 for the first time since the opening stages. 

The noise barely had time to die down before Lee was in again. Another penalty in the corner saw Taylor go to the lineout, the maul setting strongly and twisting towards the right sideline. The Crusaders pack stayed patient, driving for the line before crashing over in a mass of bodies.  

When they untangled, it was Lee who emerged with the ball for his second try on debut just before the hour mark, a classic Crusaders forward pack statement.  

Reihana’s conversion from the right touchline pushed the margin out to 26–18 and swung all the momentum in red and black’s favour. 

The Highlanders refused to go away. Replacement forwards Nikora Broughton and Oliver Haig added punch, while Ratumaitavuki‑Kneepkens and Timoci Tavatavanawai kept asking questions out wide.  

One sweeping attack down the right looked certain to produce points until Leicester Fainga’anuku, on from the bench, clamped over the ball five metres out to win a turnover penalty and lift the stadium. It felt like a critical moment, and it proved to be. 

The Crusaders thought they had landed the knockout blow when Will Jordan sliced through again and sent Xavier Saifoloi over the line with a clever offload.  

However, the TMO spotted obstruction by Saifoloi in the lead‑up, ruling the try out and taking play back for a penalty instead. Reihana, unfazed, simply pointed to the posts and banged over the three to make it 29–18 with just over ten minutes to play. 

The closing stages were all about defence. The Highlanders threw everything at the Crusaders in the final five minutes, repeatedly hammering away through the forwards and looking to free their dangerous wings with width. 

The home side held their nerve, winning key collisions on the edge of the 22 and forcing errors as the clock ticked into the red. When a final wide pass skipped past Jona Nareki and rolled into touch deep on the left‑hand side, the referee blew for full‑time and Apollo Projects Stadium rose to applaud a well-earned home win. 

Crusaders vice-captain Will Jordan says the message from that game is simple things done well.  

“Back to our DNA around looking to squeeze, them, and it was good to see our bench come on and make a big impact.” 

Head Coach Rob Penney is satisfied with the team’s performance, especially given three yellow cards and an early exit from the captain. 

“It was really important for us this week to get the week right so we could flow into the game today, we were beautifully led by our leaders, and we got to the back end in good shape and today we were able to execute,” Penney says. 

“We weren’t as accurate as we’d have liked to be and we were a bit sloppy penalty-wise but it’s a step in the right direction.” 

Full time in Christchurch: Crusaders 29, Highlanders 18.