The score was a little flattering, but the Crusaders did what nearly everyone expected, beating the Lions comfortably and taking the maximum five points from their Super 14 sixth-round match at AMI Stadium in Christchurch on Saturday night.
Two late converted tries took the Crusaders to a 46-19 win, but they will not be overly satisfied with their performance with the set pieces not as consistent as in recent weeks and too many wild passes thrown which nearly led to two intercept Lions tries.
The Crusaders had to go to the reserve bench a little earlier than they might have wanted, Dan Carter and Robbie Fruean bringing some direction and order to the backline.
The Lions were willing, but also prone to error.
If the nearly 20,000-strong Canterbury crowd expected early Crusaders fireworks they were to be disappointed, Lions first five-eighths Burton Francis kicking penalty goals in the second and fourth minutes to give the visitors a 6-0 lead.
Crusaders first five-eighths Colin Slade got the home team on the scoreboard with his first penalty attempt after seven minutes.
The opening try came in the 13th minute, Crusaders wing Sean Maitland busting the line and outpacing the cover defence.
Slade missed the angled conversion, but kicked a 39-metre penalty goal after 15 minutes to put the Crusaders ahead 11-6.
But the Lions scored almost from the kick-off, hooker Hannes Franklin picking up the ball at a breakdown near the Crusaders line and trotting across for a soft try which Francis converted from in front.
Slade was on target with his third penalty goal attempt from a wide angle after 20 minutes to put the home team in front by a point 14-13.
The Lions were over in the 23rd minute, but the scorer, halfback Jano Vermaak, was correctly adjudged offside as he chased a through kick.
Flanker Jonathan Poff scored his first try for the Crusaders after 24 minutes, breaking a tackle and running 25m to score in a tackle.
Slade missed the conversion and Francis failed with a 45m penalty attempt in front after 31 minutes before slotting third penalty from similar range two minutes before the break.
In the last minute before half-time, Slade kicked an easy 18m penalty to have the Crusaders ahead 22-16.
The arrival of former Aucklander Carlos Spencer for Francis after 43 minutes was greeted by a chorus of boos, but the bumbling display by some Crusaders also warranted jeering.
Slade kicked his fifth penalty after 50 minutes, a 52m goal from in front despite having to hurry the kick after the ball toppled off the tee.
Centre Adam Whitelock notched the Crusaders' third try after 59 minutes after a mix-up by two Lions players gifted Thomas Waldrom the ball and he found Whitelock unmarked outside him.
Slade converted for a 32-16 lead.
Fullback Earl Rose clawed back three points for the Lions with a penalty in the 65th minute.
The match opened up in the last quarter with play going from end to end with neither team able to bring the poise and polish needed to finish promising attacks until the 72nd minute when Maitland bagged his second try and the bonus-point try after wing Wigan Pekeur dropped the ball near his line.
Slade converted from a wide angle.
After the final hooter sounded, replacement halfback Willi Heinz tapped a penalty to himself and darted over under the crossbar for Slade to convert giving the home a team the comfortable victory.
Crusaders 46
Tries: Maitland 2, Poff, A.Whitelock, Heinz
Cons: Slade 3
Pens: Slade 5
Lions 19
Try: Franklin
Con: Francis
Pens: Francis 3, Rose
HT: 22-16