Crusaders 31 Lions 6
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The Crusaders' young brigade stepped up to the mark to beat the Lions 31-6 in a Super 14 rugby match in Christchurch today.
With eight changes to the starting 15 from their previous game against the Hurricanes, the Crusaders were jittery in the first half and allowed the Lions to take a 6-3 halftime lead.
But they regathered for the second half and needed just 20 minutes to score four fine tries while keeping their opponents scoreless.
Right wing Sean Maitland, hooker Ti'i Paulo, left wing Caleb Ralph and halfback Andrew Ellis were the scorers.
For Ralph, it was his 58th try in Super rugby, one short of equalling the record held by former Blues winger Doug Howlett.
The result meant the table-topping Crusaders maintained their unbeaten record after eight matches.
After coach Robbie Deans decided to rest a number of his leading players such as Leon MacDonald, Brad Thorn, Stephen Brett and Richie McCaw, the Crusaders' pool of experience was further diluted after 15 minutes when skipper Reuben Thorne came off with an injured hand and took no further part in the game.
They trailed by three points after five minutes and were pinned down in their half as the Lions kicked well and their tight forwards such as hooker Ethienne Reynecke and props Ross Geldenhuys and Heinke van der Merwe were dominant.
Despite a good amount of possession the Lions were unable to break through for a try, with the Crusaders defence remaining solid even if their attack was patchy.
Rookie first five-eighth Hamish Gard equalised with a penalty in the eighth minute but halfback Chris Jonck restored the Lions' lead with a second penalty in the 13th minute.
Lions wing Rayno Benjamin was shown the yellow card in the 38th minute for blatant offside play.
That error drew heavy punishment from the Crusaders who took the lead shortly after the restart with a penalty and a try while Benjamin was still off.
Right wing Maitland's try on the missing Benjamin's side of the field came after a well setup backline move by Gard.
Paulo completed a forward rumble and, in a mirror image of Maitland's try, Ralph crossed on the other side of the field minutes later.
The Lions then clutched at shadows as the Crusaders created the best try of the match.
The home side broke out of their 22 and the ball passed through 10 pairs of hands before Maitland was stopped 1m out near the right corner flag.
But Ellis plucked the ball from the base of the ruck and cheekily dived over the top of it to dot down for the bonus-point fourth try.
There was little the Lions, who had beaten the Crusaders 9-3 at home last season, could do and they once again left Christchurch, where they have never won, empty-handed.
Canterbury 31 (Sean Maitland, Ti'i Paulo, Caleb Ralph, Andrew Ellis tries, Hamish Gard 3 pen, con) Lions 6 (Chris Jonck 2 pen). Halftime: 3-6.
- NZPA
