It was hard-fought, not always pretty, but the Crusaders moved to the top of the New Zealand conference with a 23-16 win against previous leaders, the Blues, in their round 17 Investec Super Rugby match at Alpine Energy Stadium, Timaru, on Saturday night.
With left wing Zac Guildford in impressive form and touching down twice, the Crusaders protected a 13-11 half-time lead and held out a determined Blues challenge to avenge a two-point loss in the opening round. Both teams lost key players early with Crusaders midfielder Sonny Bill Williams and Blues wing Rene Ranger both being replaced in the first half.
Luke McAlister got the Blues on the board first with a penalty after four minutes and they had the first try after 12 minutes when fullback Jared Payne hit the line at pace and gave wing Rene Ranger some room which he used, beating Robbie Fruean's tackle and scoring in the corner. McAlister failed to convert.
Two minutes later the Crusaders were on the board, Dan Carter kicking a penalty after Ali Williams infringed. After 17 minutes, the Crusaders had their first try after a brilliant bit of work by halfback Andy Ellis.
He robbed the Blues of scrum ball, kicked ahead, and tackled the covering Payne. The Crusaders forwards arrived en masse and flanker Matt Todd drove over, Carter converting from close range for a 10-8 lead.
Ranger suffered a hamstring injury after 25 minutes which almost led to a Crusaders try after Carter kicked through, the ball crossing the dead-ball line. Minutes later George Whitelock crossed for the Crusaders but the try was disallowed because of a forward pass.
The Crusaders were rewarded on the half hour with Carter kicking his second penalty after the Blues were embarrassed in the scrum. McAlister kicked his second penalty soon after to have the Crusaders ahead. 13-11, and it stayed that way to half-time with both teams having a crack but unable to break the defence.
The second half was only 40 seconds old when the Blues left the ball behind from the restart. No. 8 Kieran Read swooped and set up wing Zac Guildford for a soft try. Carter's sideline conversion was just wide.
The Blues were unlucky to be denied a try on a TMO call when prop Charlie Faumuina was adjudged to be held up after barging over the line in the 46th minute, but he got his just rewards when he ploughed across two minutes later. McAlister missed the wide conversion.
From the kick-off Faumuina conceded a silly penalty, but Carter dragged the kick wide. Andy Ellis dropped a pass with the try on after a big Fruean break and the Blues also butchered a try when McAlister grassed the ball with the line open.
Replacement Lachie Munro was heading goal-line until Guildford did outstandingly well to hammer him into touch after 69 minutes. Both teams were tired on a puggy field and errors were increasing.
Guildford was more the hero after 74 minutes when Carter kicked to his wing from a penalty and Guildford was supreme in catching and scoring. Carter missed the sideline conversion but the lead was 23-16 and it remained that to the final whistle.
Scorers:
Crusaders 23
Tries: Guildford (2), Todd
Con: Carter
Pen: Carter (2)
Blues 16
Tries: Ranger, Faumuina
Pens: McAlister (2)
HT: 13-11