Crusaders stun Blues to keep season alive

CRUSADERS salvaged some dignity in their torrid Super Rugby Pacific campaign with a shock 29-27 win over league leaders and fierce rivals the Blues.

- TOM JEFFREYS

With their title-defence nearly a write-off under new coach Rob Penney, Crusaders were down in 11th and headed into the game with little chance of winning given the fearsome form of the Blues who had lost just once all season.

Blues’ superior points difference keeps them in first place, level on points with the Hurricanes, while victory keeps Crusaders’ season alive – they sit just outside the play-off spots held by Fijian Drua and Highlanders who meet today.

With a final round fixture against struggling Moana Pasifika, and their three play-off rivals all facing opposition above them in the table, Penney’s men could still snatch a play-off spot.

Crusaders opened the scoring with a try from returning All Black Ethan Blackadder, this just his fourth appearance of the season. Blues responded quickly through another All Black, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, the winger scoring twice to give the Blues a lead that was cut with a Chay Fihaki try, created by Codie Taylor, on the stroke of half-time, to leave Crusaders trailing by three points.

Crusaders belief never faltered despite an early second-half score from AJ Lam, taking the lead through converted tries from Christian Lio-Willie and Noah Hotham, the latter a product of vintage Crusaders offloading. A Fihaki penalty moved them seven clear, a margin big enough to defend despite a late Lam score, Blues’ Harry Plummer missing the chance to equalise with five to go.