Match Reports

The BNZ Crusaders have defeated the Sharks 19-14 in what proved a close encounter to begin their South African tour in Durban over Easter weekend.

A strong defensive effort and physicality at the breakdown put early pressure on the hosts, but the red-and-blacks struggled initially to convert their ascendency in to points, as they looked to play expansive rugby in the opening stanza.

The reward finally came midway through the first half, when Nemani Nadolo took the ball to the defensive line of the Sharks while playing under penalty advantage. Nadolo offloaded brilliantly in the tackle just metres from the goal line, for fullback David Havili to score. Richie Mo’unga slotted the conversion to give the BNZ Crusaders a 7-0 lead.

Starved of the ball throughout the first half, Sharks’ winger Lwazi Mvovo forced his side back in to contention late in the piece, when he intercepted a pass and covered more than 50 metres to score, completely against the run of play.  Flyhalf Joe Pietersen added the extras to level the scores 7-7 heading in to the break. Mvovo featured again shortly after half time, swooping on a loose pass from Kieron Fonotia that went to ground, and racing away to the line for their side’s second converted try.

Trailing 14-7, the BNZ Crusaders found themselves on the back foot again when a penalty was reversed and Havili was sinbinned for a shoulder charge off the ball with 48 minutes on the clock. Despite being reduced to 14, the BNZ Crusaders rallied on defence and continued to test the Sharks on attack, stretching their defensive line before a well-timed cut out ball from skipper Kieran Read found Nadolo on the left wing, who touched down just inside the corner flag.

The deficit remained at two points when the try went unconverted, but the BNZ Crusaders were back on attack almost immediately, electing to take a quick throw-in from the kick-off which saw Fonotia sprint down the touchline. Johnny McNicholl was in support to dot it down, but the try was denied when Fonotia was deemed to have put a foot in touch. The TMO was brought in to play again at the 65-minute mark, just as momentum seemed to swing in the Sharks’ favour, with their fullback Willie le Roux ruled to have been in front when he chased down a kick from inside his own half to score a try at the other end of the field.

Persistent on attack, the breakthrough for the BNZ Crusaders came with less than 10 minutes to play, when Read scored to the right of the posts; the result of multiple phases of patient build-up. Nadolo converted from close range and the visitors closed out the match with a narrow five point victory.

The BNZ Crusaders will face the Lions in Round Six on Saturday 2^nd April at 6am (NZ time).

By Chantelle Te Haara