Crusaders back on top after edging Chiefs in final

The Canterbury Crusaders edged the Waikato Chiefs 16-12 in an intense Super Rugby Pacific final battle in Christchurch yesterday to claim their 15th title in 30 years of the Southern Hemisphere competition.

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Hooker Codie Taylor scored a try and Rivez Reihana contributed 11 points from the kicking tee as the most dominant team in Super Rugby history got back to title-winning ways after missing the playoffs last season.

"We had a shocking year last year but we're back at the top," said fly-half Reihana, who was named Player of the Match.

"Just so stoked to be a part of this team... lucky we've got some world-class players that we're able to rely on in those crunch moments."

The Chiefs, who were looking for a first title since 2013, scored first-half tries through George Dyer and Shaun Stevenson but were unable to register a point after the break and fell to defeat in the final for the third straight year.