Rugby: Hurricanes and Crusaders battle to thrilling draw

Crusader players celebrate their 85th minute try that tied the match. Photo / Getty Images

The Hurricanes and Crusaders battled to a thrilling 26-26 draw but the result was little consolation to the Wellington side battling to stay in contention for the Super 14 rugby playoffs.

The Hurricanes, leading 26-21 in the dying minutes were denied a win they so desperately needed after losing their last four matches, by a controversial try to the Crusaders.

The Crusaders launched phase after phase and kept the ball alive after the hooter had sounded and the desperate surges for the line lasted over five minutes before a cascade of bodies flopped at the Hurricanes try line.

South African referee Jonathan Kaplan asked for the help of the television match official Glenn Newman with the questions as to any reason why he should not award a try and whether the Crusaders' ball carrier was on his feet going over.

Newman confirmed the ball carrier was on his feet and that he could not give any reason not to award the try.

Kaplan awarded the try but Dan Carter was unable to make the conversion from a wide angle.

The Crusaders got into their rhythm from the kickoff to pin the Hurricanes down.

A powerful burst by Robbie Fruean ended the jousting among the forwards and after the centre was brought down, the Crusaders switched the ball to the opposite flank where flanker George Whitelock crashed over.

Carter missed the conversion but made no mistake with his next goalkick, a penalty which took his Super 14 career points to 999.

Another ill-judged shoulder charge from Hurricanes second five-eighth Ma'a Nonu gave Carter an easy chance to pass the 1000-point landmark.

He made no mistake to join the Brumbies Stirling Mortlock as the second player to notch four figures in Super rugby history.

The Crusaders could have extended their lead but fullback Cory Jane pulled off a desperate try-saving tackle on a flying Crsuaders wing Sean Maitland.

But last season's Hurricanes, Fruean and wing Zac Guildford combined for a gem of a try for the Crusaders with Guildford crossing in the 26th minute for Carter to convert.

The Hurricanes then found the key to unlocking the Crusaders defensive line. They got their big, fast men into play with wing Hosea Gear and blindside flanker Victor Vito prominent.

In an enthralling passage of open play, Nonu made amends for his poor tackling with a solo effort from 30 metres after a sweeping backline move.

Vito and Gear were prominent in setting up the Hurricanes' next try. Jane and centre Conrad Smith carried the move on and lock Jeremy Thrush finished it off with a try that Ripia also converted.

With Aaron Cruden replacing Ripia, Piri Weepu took over the kicking duties in the second half and he duly landed four penalties as the Hurricanes got the upper hand for most of the second half.

Carter had kicked one in reply in the second half and the Hurricanes were tantalisingly on the brink of notching the second straight win over the Crusaders and just their fifth in 19 meetings since 1996.

But The Crusaders given the ball in the final moments, made no mistakes as they pushed for the win.

Hurricanes 26 (Ma'a Nonu, Jeremy Thrush tries; Piri Weepu 4 pen, Willie Ripa 2 con) Crusaders 26 (George Whitelock, Zac Guildford, Chris Jack tries; Daniel Carter 3 pen, con) . Halftime: 14-18.

- NZPA