Match Reports

15 Sharks will be credited with this win but in reality it was really only one that did the damage - number ten Patrick Lambie.

Phew. It was feeling many Crusaders fans would have felt when referee Craig Jourbet called time on this Newlands nailbiter. 

 

As the whistle went the heads of exhausted Crusaders players lifted to see a final scoreline of 19-14. It was close and a result, with much of their mainstays missing from the team, that was no sure thing at the outset. 

It was a place he once called home but for former Crusader Matt Sexton, Christchurch was now enemy territory as he brought his Southern Kings team to take on the red and blacks. 

Home at last. 

 

After 209 days the Crusaders had their first match at AMI stadium. The fans were glad to have them back, a sea of red flags and Crusaders Jerseys of every vintage greeting the team as Dan Carter got proceedings under way. 

 

The visitors were the Bulls who blunted the Blues last week, but it was Dan Carter who landed the first blow of the night.  The Bulls were penalised for not releasing the tackler straight in front of their posts after five minutes. That is Carter three point territory and so it was again as the first five converted to give the home team an early lead. 

 

The early exchanges were physical, normal fare for any clash against a team from the Rainbow nation. Most of the early action was concentrated in the middle of the park as both teams probed the defence of the other. With the lines holding firm, it took a Crusaders lapse at the breakdown to give the Bulls their first opportunity of the night. Morne Steyn knocking over the penalty to restore parity on the scoreboard after twenty minutes.  

 

Then the Crusaders went for it. With captain Kieran Read leading the charge, the red and blacks lay siege to the Bulls line. After 10 plus phases five metres out and with the Bulls defenders committed, the Crusaders went wide. Robbie Fruean found himself unmarked out on the right and was able to dive over for the opening try of the match. Carter then did what Carter does. Crusaders 10, Bulls 3 after 23 minutes. 

 

The home team then went again. They had all the possession, the momentum and soon had a second try. Deservedly it went to Captain charger Kieran Read on the half hour mark. A string of pick and goes in the Bulls ten metre zone concluding with Read crashing over from close on the left. The conversion attempt faded just to the right to leave the score at 15-3.  

 

Two Steyn penalties reduced the Crusaders advantage to six points but it was the home team that finished the half with a bang. As the half came to close an incredible 17 phases on attack led to Johnny McNicholl crossing over wide on the left. Carter nailed the conversion to give his team a 22-9 lead. 

 

After the break, the first points came from the boot of Steyn as he added his fourth penalty. But then it was Tom Marshall who got the red flags going furious. On attack just inside the Bulls half Marshall dashed through a gap then outgunned the covering defence to score a stunning solo effort. Carter converted. The Crusaders notching up their bonus point try in only the 45th minute. 

 

A bit of an arm wrestle then ensued before the Crusaders again went up a level and again it was through a Tom Marshall break. Marshall ran through a gap to put the Crusaders deep in the Blues half. A wave of attacks ended with Wyatt Crockett grabbing the Crusaders fifth try. Carter was unable to add the extras but the scoreboard still looked impressive. 34-12 after 60 minutes. 

 

The size of the advantage enabled Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder to empty the bench.  Kieran Read, Robbie Fruean amongst those to see out the rest of the game from the sideline. 

 

They then watched as the Bulls finally penetrated the Crusaders wall. The Bulls driving to the line off the back of a line out. Deon Stegmann the first Bulls try scorer of the night. Steyn converted - score 34-19. 

 

The home team came back strong and had the final say of the match. Replacement halfback Willie Heinz darting over close to the posts from a maul.  Try Converted to seal a final score of 41-19. 

 

A commanding victory a commanding performance and a big grin on Todd Blackadder's face as the Crusaders finally got their season going. 

Close....very close...but not close enough. That summed up the Crusaders second round visit to the capital on Friday night.  

 

Four converted tries, Dan Carter on song - ingredients one might have thought would have produced the right mix at the Cake Tin. It certainly looked that way heading into the closing stages but an intercept try to Hurricane Alapati Leuia proved the decisive act in what was a see-saw clash. 

 

The match began tentatively, not surprising for two teams who have yet to hit their straps this season. 

 

It was Hurricanes pivot Beauden Barrett who opened the scoring with a penalty in the sixth minute following a Crusaders infringement at the ruck. 

 

But from there it was the Crusaders who began to dictate proceedings and they soon had their reward through second-five eighth Ryan Crotty. Crotty's running game was a feature of his performances last year and it was on show again as he bust the Hurricanes defence open in the 25th minute.  Taking the ball from Andy Ellis off the back of a Crusaders ruck in Hurricanes territory, Crotty ghosted between two Hurricanes defenders before brushing off two covering attackers to go over just to the right of the posts. 

 

An impressive way to gain the lead and the Crusaders began to open the Hurricanes defence.  While testing the Hurricanes repetitively they also found themselves testing the patience of referee Andrew Lees. Three Crusaders transgressions gave Beauden Barrett three penalty opportunities which he did not decline. His boot providing the Hurricanes with a 12-7 advantage at halftime. . 

 

It was a lead the Crusaders probably felt was theirs and they came out in the second stanza determined to reclaim it. Six minutes in they turned up the pressure and put together thirteen phases as they advanced on the Hurricanes line. Skipper Kieran Read and big Dominic Bird, making his first Super Rugby start, crashed the ball up to within five metres of the Hurricanes goal line. The ball then fell to Corey Flynn who applied the finishing touches, burrowing over for the five pointer. Carter added the extras to put the Crusaders 14-12 up. 

 

Back came the Hurricanes who were hot on attack before Tim Bateman's attempted pass to Andre Taylor missed its mark in the 50th minute. Israel Dagg was first to the loose ball, booting it up field before setting chase. He out paced the Hurricanes defence, kicking the ball two more times on the deck then diving over for the Crusaders third try. It was an impressive 80 metre effort from a player enjoying being back in the number 15 jersey. 

 

Carter was again on target as the Crusaders extended their lead to 21-12.  It was a differential that only lasted four minutes when Julian Savea powered through the tackles of Tom Marshall and Israel Dagg to score wide on the left. Barrett converted to move the score to 21-19. 

 

The Crusaders then produced a brilliant try of their own, again capitalising on a mistake from a Hurricanes fumble in attack. This time the ball fell to Johnny McNicholl who charged up field before being brought down just inside the Crusaders half. The master and apprentice then conspired to conjure up an excellent finish. Tom Taylor exchanging passes with Carter as they weaved down the left. A Taylor pass came off Carter's leg but he managed to control it and dive over for the bonus point try. Carter converted for a 28-19 lead. 

 

A Barrett penalty in the 70th minute closed the gap to six points but it looked like the Crusaders would be able to hold on for their first win of the season. That was until Alapati Leuia was able to snatch an intercept try eight minutes from the end. Barrett's conversion gave the Hurricanes a slender one point lead, 29-28 and despite late pressure from the Crusaders, it was one they didn't relinquish.  

 

So an improved performance from Todd Blackadder's men but still not the result they were after. No doubt the first home game next week will be an ideal opportunity to finally get their season started.