Crusaders take thriller

A convincing and well-rounded performance handed the Crusaders a 26-19 win over the Chiefs in a thrilling Rebel Sport Super 14 encounter at Waikato Stadium in Hamilton on Friday night.

Two tries to Crusaders halfback Kahn Fotuali'i and 13 points to Dan Carter in the first half helped their side to a good lead but the Chiefs were looking innovative and were never out of the game.

A clinical second half performance, particularly from the Crusaders forward pack, kept the Chiefs out of the game to claim a well-earned win and four valuable points on the ladder.

For the Chiefs, the loss is the second at home in as many weeks but it was a marked improvement on their loss to the Reds so there is still plenty of opportunity for them to have another decent crack at the title.

In the first half, Chiefs first five-eighths Stephen Donald was get his side off to an early lead after slotting two penalties within the first five minutes of play.

Donald's opposite, and superior in the All Blacks, Carter was able to add three points of his own in the six minute however, when he converted a relatively simple kick.

The Crusaders then showed amazing ball retention to score a good try through halfback Fotuali'i to take a 10-6 lead with Chiefs loose-forward Liam Messam having to leave the field after being injured in a ruck.

One more penalty to Donald closed the gap slightly but it was immediately answered by Carter to take to the score out to 13-9.

After some frantic, open-field play with both sides looking extremely dangerous, the Crusaders found a gap down the blindside and claimed another try through Fotuali'i.

Carter successfully converted the kick, but the Chiefs hit back straight away when No.8 Colin Bourke made huge metres before passing to Donald, who fed a great pass to centre Richard Kahui who scored his side's first try of the night.

Carter's third penalty of the night took him to 993 Super Rugby points, surpassing Andrew Mehrtens to become the second highest points scorer in the history of the competition.

Although the Chiefs were under a lot of pressure at scrum-time, they seemed to have the advantage in the line-outs despite the All Black locking duo for the visiting side.

The fast-paced action from the first half continued well into the second half with the Chiefs determined to keep the ball in the Crusaders half. The visiting side's ability to counter-ruck and turn its defence into an attacking situation allowed them to relieve the pressure time and time again however.

Carter was able to stretch the lead to 10 points when he slotted his fourth penalty on the night after 13 minutes of play in the second half.

Crusaders No.8 Kieran Reid was having a fantastic game and was popping up at the right time for his side to deliver crafty offloads and long runs to keep the Chiefs treading backwards.

With the Crusaders well on the front foot, the pressure went on as the Chiefs had to camp on their line and repel wave after wave of relentless attack from the visitors. The Chiefs were up to the task and managed to keep them out, but it was obvious the Crusaders meant business and continued the attack.

Some illegal scrimmaging from Crusaders prop Ben Franks allowed the Chiefs to clear from their line with Donald taking play to the other half.

A penalty on the 50 metre line allowed Donald to take a shot at goal to reduce the points deficit to a converted try, a kick he expertly guided between the sticks to give the Chiefs a chance with seven minutes remaining.

After a missed dropped-goal from Carter, a freakish Donald 22 restart took play all the way down to within metres of the Crusaders line.

The Crusaders were able to clear however and drag the game out to claim the 26-19 win, claiming four points for the win while the Chiefs had to settle for a consolation bonus-point.

Chiefs 19(Kahui t; Donald con, 4 pen)

Crusader 26(Fotuali'i 2 t; Carter 2 con, 4 pen)

HT: 23-16

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