Crusaders fell Highlanders in Carisbrook tussle

Justin Marshall breaks through the defence to score a try during the Crusaders win over the Highlanders. Picture / Fotopress

The Crusaders claimed South Island bragging rights when they beat the Highlanders 27-13 in their Super 12 rugby match in Dunedin tonight.

After being dominated in the first 40 minutes and trailing 7-6 at halftime, the perennial semifinalists turned the tables on the Highlanders with two quick tries early in the second half to seal their eighth win of the competition.

The Crusaders fell short of securing a bonus point despite a late onslaught which saw second five-eighth Aaron Mauger bag his second try.

The victory at Carisbrook comes close to sealing a home semifinal for the Crusaders, who with one round remaining are in second place on 39 points, five ahead of the third placed Hurricanes on 34 who they play next Friday.

The Waratahs lead the competition on 40 while the Highlanders, with 27 points, could slip out of the top four depending on the result of the Bulls match against Sharks in Durban tomorrow morning (NZ time).

Compounding the Highlanders problems was the loss of influential skipper and hooker Anton Oliver.

Oliver, the incumbent All Blacks rake, hobbled from the field after 30 minutes with what appeared to be a calf muscle injury.

Adding to their injury woes, impressive winger Anthony Tuitavake left the field with a shoulder injury during the second half after producing a thumping tackle.

The local-derby lived up to expectations with a fast paced game, and after a tight opening half, tries to Mauger and halfback Justin Marshall in the 44th and 55th minutes respectively took the match away from the Highlanders at 20-10.

The Crusaders then withstood a sustained period of pressure within their 22 and profited from continually slowing down the Highlanders ball.

Highlanders pivot Nick Evans landed his second penalty after the constant infringing, but in the closing frantic final 10 minutes, the Crusaders showed better composure to close out the match.

Despite the win coach Robbie Deans would be concerned with their mid-field defence which was frequently exposed by the aggressive running of Highlanders second five-eighth Seilala Mapusua and Tuitavake.

The hosts first try coming from a Mapusua bust midway through the opening spell.

Mapusua lost possession after his 40m break, but replacement winger Hayden Pedersen received a pass from Marshall while retreating to his own side, and then scampered over for the try.

Fullback Ben Blair nailed the conversion, but the ex-Cantabrian turned villain moments later when he botched certain five-pointer.

Tuitavake cracked the defence from halfway, drew the fullback and passed to Blair who dropped the ball with a clear try-line ahead.

The Highlanders final match is against the Chiefs in Hamilton on Saturday.


Crusaders 27 (Aaron Mauger 2, Justin Marshall tries; Daniel Carter 2 pen, 3 con)

Highlanders 13 (Hayden Pedersen try; Nick Evans 2 pen, Ben Blair con).

Halftime: 6-7.

- NZPA