Match Reports

The Crusaders stayed on track with a 46-19 bonus-point victory over the Lions at AMI Stadium tonight.

It was a bit scrappy at times but the Lions proved better opposition than many predicted and the Crusaders will gladly bank the five points with a bye next weekend.

The five tries to one victory featured a storming performance from openside flanker Jonathan Poff (pictured), who celebrated his first start of the season with a fine try.

Another who played well was Colin Slade. Slade started in the number 10 jersey for the first time this season and kicked 21 points - including a penalty from within his own half.

Referee Garratt Williamson, a late replacement for the ill Keith Brown, was hard on the Crusaders early on, penalising them three times within the first four minutes.

Lions first-five Burton Francis kicked two of the penalties before Slade replied with one of his own to make it 3-6 after seven minutes.

A neat blindside scrum move featuring a long pass from No8 Thomas Waldrom to Sean Maitland who gave it back to an incisive Ryan Crotty split the Lions but the visitors snuffed out the danger with scrambling defence.

They failed to defend adequately a few minutes later though when Maitland scored the first of his two tries.

The winger received a long pass from Crotty which allowed him to drift outside his marker, and with centre Adam Whitelock outside him, cut back to beat the last defender and score an unconverted try.

A Slade penalty pushed the score to 11-6 to the Crusaders before the Lions struck back through hooker Hannes Franklin, who seemed to stroll around a Crusaders ruck for a try by the posts.

Another Slade penalty after 20 minutes gave the Crusaders back a lead they wouldn't relinquish, although the hosts were lucky that a try was disallowed due to an offside Lions player chasing a kick through.

Poff scored his try after 25 minutes and it featured a strong run by hooker Ti'i Paulo on the right touchline. Poff showed good skills to deceive the defence with a dummy and a step and great power to stretch out for the line.

A Francis penalty narrowed the gap to 19-16 before good work by Poff and captain Richie McCaw in the tackle forced a penalty in front of the posts which Slade kicked to give his side a 22-16 halftime lead.

A Lions substitute after halftime - none other than former Blues and Auckland player Carlos Spencer - caused a bit of a stir among the 20,000 crowd but not even his magic could save the Lions in the second spell.

Slade showed a little of his own when taking a penalty 51m out after 50 minutes. The ball on the tee fell and he quickly put it back and slotted it with a two-step run up.

Centre Adam Whitelock, who like Poff scored a try in his first start of the season, capitalised on a great run and pass by the barnstorming Waldrom.

An Earl Rose penalty narrowed the gap to 32-19 after 65 minutes and the Crusaders were on the hunt for a fourth try and that bonus point.

That duly came with seven minutes left when Spencer ran the ball from his own 22m and passed a perfectly good ball to his left wing Wigan Pekeur which was promptly dropped.

Dan Carter, on as a substitute, quickly passed to Adam Whitelock, who fed Maitland for a converted try.

And Willi Heinz, the Crusaders replacement halfback, added the final touch after the hooter when scoring his first try in Rebel Sport Super 14 rugby.

It was again effective rugby from the Crusaders, who are second on the table behind the unbeaten Bulls.

The AMI Stadium crowd took advantage of the earlier 5.30pm kick-off and fine warm conditions to turn out in great numbers which was also very pleasing.

Head coach Todd Blackadder said afterwards that there were still plenty of things to work on the Crusaders but that they would look forward to their bye weekend and the challenge the week after of playing the Hurricanes in Wellington.

Ben Franks again had a strong game at prop and his defence has gone to a new level this season. The new-look loose forward trio of Poff, McCaw and Waldrom also worked well together.

And Chris Jack played his first game in red and black since 2007 when coming on as a second-half substitute for Isaac Ross.

Crusaders - Tries: Sean Maitland 2, Jonathan Poff, Adam Whitelock, Willi Heinz. Cons: Colin Slade 3. Pens: Slade 5.
Lions - Try: Hannes Franklin. Con: Burton Francis. Pens: Francis 3, Earl Rose.
HT: 22-16.

Kickers:
Crusaders - Slade: 8 from 10.
Lions - Francis: 4 from 5. Rose: 1 from 1.

Crusaders:
1. Ben Franks
2. Ti'i Paulo
3. Owen Franks (Wyatt Crockett 55min)
4. Sam Whitelock
5. Isaac Ross (Chris Jack 48min)
6. Richie McCaw (c)
7. Jonathan Poff
8. Thomas Waldrom (George Whitelock 72min)
9. Kahn Fotuali'i (Willi Heinz 57min)
10. Colin Slade
11. Zac Guildford (Dan Carter 57min)
12. Ryan Crotty
13. Adam Whitelock
14. Sean Maitland
15. Jared Payne (Robbie Fruean 73min)

Reserves not used:
16. Corey Flynn