Win and bonus point for Crusaders against Chiefs put them on top
Crusaders have secured the top most position in the Super XV combined table as they take five-point lead over the second placed Reds.
Chiefs hosted the Crusaders on Friday 15 April, 2011 at Mt Maunganui during the round 9 of the Super Rugby Championship 2011.
This was the crusaders 6th consecutive win in the Super XV and the last minutes try has provided them the try bonus point. Crusaders were coming from their dominating win against the Bulls while Chiefs were playing their first game after the
Bye during the last weekend.
The final scorecard does not truly reflect the intensity with which the both teams contested in the match. At half time, there was a marginal difference as the visitors lead the hosts by just 3 points. Jackson Williams took bench in place of Tana Umaga.
Second minute tackle on the Chiefs Flank Tanerau Latimer by Crusaders Prop Owen Franks set the tone for the game. Scott Waldrom replaced Latimer as Crusaders control the ball and after a beautiful display of passing between Centre Robert Fruean, Winger Zac
Guildford and Full Back Israel Dagg, Fruean scored the try to put points on the scorecard.
This was followed by Matt Berquist’s conversion, Berquist started in place of injured Dan Carter. Both sides were playing attacking rugby that too at a much higher pace. The ball was moving on both sides of the grounds and courtesy of the spectacular move
initiated by Chiefs winger Sitiveni Sivivatu, Chiefs Winger Lelia Masaga scored a try followed by their Fly Half Mike Delany’s conversion.
Three minutes later Mike Delany successfully kicked the penalty to put the hosts in lead for the first time in the match. Crusaders came back strongly as their Winger Sean Maitland scored their second try in the game, followed by Berquist conversion to again
put Crusaders in lead.
With both teams looking to secure territory possession, there were numerous ball-handling errors. Crusaders increased their lead as Berquist successfully kicked the penalty in the 33rd minute of the game. During the last minute of the first half, Mike Delany
reduced the deficit to just three points as he nailed the penalty.
Chiefs started the second half with the intensity and kept Crusaders under pressure until the 49th minute.
Riche McCaw and Andy Ellis comes for Crusaders, the Chiefs momentum started weakening. Scrum Half Ellis scored third try for his team during the 53rd minute followed by Berquist conversions to take the scorecard reading 13 – 24 in favour of Crusaders.
In the 57th minute after a brawl between the Liam Messam and Corey Flynn, penalty was awarded to the Chiefs with Mike Delany scoring to reduce the lead to 8 points. With 20 minutes remaining in the game, Crusaders were controlling the game and were helped
by the Chiefs handling errors. Berquist scored his last penalty in the game to take the score to 27– 16.
Crusaders secured their all important try bonus point with Luke Romano scoring a try during the 78th minute which was followed by the Berquist conversion.
Crusaders will now take on the Highlanders and Reds now will have to win a game alongside a win to take the top position away from the Crusaders.
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