Crusaders hang on

By CHRIS RATTUE in Hamilton

Crusaders 34 Chiefs 27

They would have had trouble celebrating fully at Waikato Stadium anyway.

Long before the final whistle in the Super 12 clash between the Chiefs and Crusaders, the beer had run out at the superbly rebuilt arena.

Kevin Greene's Chiefs lasted longer than the beer, but not long enough as the Crusaders won in a thrilling finish.

The All Blacks-laden Crusaders were hardly at their best, but for a second week showed the ability to win through in a tight game.

And for a second week, the Chiefs did not make the most of their possession.

A solo burst through four tacklers from backline warhorse Daryl Gibson in the 72nd minute, plus a late long-range Aaron Mauger drop goal, sealed the Chiefs' fate in front of a near-capacity crowd of 25,000.

The Chiefs had also been hurt just minutes before Gibson's try by an opportunist effort from wing Joe Maddock, who was about to be replaced because of a leg injury.

Maddock grabbed the bouncing ball from an average up-and-under from Mauger, and raced to the tryline before heading to the reserves' bench as Andrew Mehrtens landed the sideline conversion for a 24-20 lead.

They were heartbreaking moments for the Chiefs, who by the Crusaders' statistics had dominated the ruck ball by 101 to 39.

"I thought we deserved a better fate," Greene said.

The Chiefs may have a new home but they've yet to find Greene's Pastures, although they did claim a bonus point.

Trailing by 20-34, they were given hope by a long-range try from Mark Ranby, after a flying run from Roger Randle.

When David Hill's conversion scraped over the bar there were just two minutes left on the clock.

The Chiefs strung together furious attacks at the Crusaders, but the match ended with referee Kelvin Deaker signalling a Crusaders penalty right on their tryline.

The Chiefs were without captain Deon Muir, who was unable to fight off a hamstring injury, with the unheralded Steven Bates playing at No 8 and halfback Danny Lee taking over the leadership.

From the outset they were a more committed side than the one which collapsed against the Waratahs.

"We wanted to do justice to the occasion," said Lee, referring to the debut for the new stadium.

The Crusaders would have been relieved to go in at halftime just 11-13 down.

They were often jittery in the backline and made mistakes in other areas.

A poor Justin Marshall kick led to a 22nd-minute David Hill penalty and moments later fullback Leon MacDonald was assisted from the field, not to return, after being dazed.

As only the Crusaders can do, as one All Black left the field, another was wheeled on. Gibson came into the midfield backs, with Mauger going to fullback.

It was Mauger who had scored the game's opening try from a backline move which produced a gaping hole in the Chiefs' right-side defence in the 17th minute.

But this was a more resilient Chiefs unit than the one which played the Waratahs in Rotorua.

The Chiefs scrum grabbed a tighthead against the Crusaders near-test-strength pack in the 30th minute, leading to a 55m attack which brought a Todd Miller try after a short break from Keith Lowen.

Crusaders 34 (A. Mauger, J. Maddock, D. Gibson tries; A. Mehrtens 4 pen, 2 con; Mauger drop goal) Chiefs 27 (T. Miller, R. Randle, M. Ranby tries, D. Hill 2 pen, 3 con). Halftime: 11-13.