Crusaders survive scare in Hamilton

Crusaders 25 Chiefs 19

The Crusaders survived a searching examination of their pedigree to beat the Chiefs 25-19 in a Super 14 rugby match in Hamilton tonight.

Unbeaten since last April, the Crusaders were flirting with a surprise setback when they found themselves trailing heading into the last quarter of the fifth round match at Waikato Stadium.

A feisty Chiefs side threatened to produce the shock of the season when ahead 19-18 with 18 minutes remaining before the match turned after the home side decided to run the ball from a penalty awarded in their favour.

The end result was a scything counter-attack from near halfway by Crusaders wing Rico Gear, who fed rampaging No 8 Mose Tuiali'i to charge the final 25m to the tryline.

Dan Carter's conversion took the Crusaders out to a 25-19 lead, the biggest difference between the sides since the visitors led 15-9 after 38 minutes.

The Chiefs refused to go away, however, and continued to pressure the competition leaders, who required first five-eighth Carter to pull off a fine cover tackle to deny loose forward Sione Lauaki a try in the corner in the 72nd minute.

Scrambling Crusaders defence was then called on to close down the Chiefs in the dying stages after the home side forced a 5m scrum following a period of sustained pressure.

The Chiefs had gone into the halftime break leading 16-15 following a try to dangerous winger Sitiveni Sivivatu after the hooter.

With time up and referee Kelvin Deaker playing advantage, first-five-eighth Stephen Donald angled a kick to the left which bounced out of the grasp of hooker Crusaders Corey Flynn and into the hands of Sivivatu.

He scampered 30m to score beside the goalposts, allowing Donald a simple conversion to add to his three earlier penalties.

It was a late blip for the Crusaders who had looked to have everything in hand following first-half tries to wing Scott Hamilton and Carter.

Both came after Chiefs errors when receiving kickoffs, Carter charging down a Donald clearance in the eighth minute and Hamilton scoring in the left-hand corner in the 16th minute after Tuiali'i retrieved a kickoff courtesy of a deflection off a Chiefs player.

The Chiefs were well worth the bonus point earned for losing by seven or more points and with an ounce of luck they could have quadrupled their collect by winning the game themselves.

They pressured the Crusaders for long periods and won more than their share of possession.

However, much of the recycled ball going their way was very slow, with the Crusaders using fair means and foul to impede delivery in the rucks and mauls.

Crusaders captain Richie McCaw said the Chiefs were as tough to crack as he had expected they would be.

"They threw everything at us. We had to defend very well at the end," said McCaw, whose side remain atop the standings following their fifth successive victory.

McCaw said his players knew they had more improvements to make but he couldn't ask for more than they had produced to date.

Result:-

Crusaders 25 (Dan Carter, Scott Hamilton, Mose Tuiali' tries; Carter 2 pen, 2 con).
Chiefs 19 (Sitiveni Sivivatu try; Stephen Donald 4 pen, con).
HT: 15-16

- NZPA