Crusaders extend winning streak

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The Crusaders claimed a hard-fought 22-12 victory against the Reds in Brisbane on Saturday. DYLAN JACK reports.

While the Crusaders were not at their free-flowing best, they showed their championship quality to come through a tough test at the Suncorp Stadium and claim a record eighth straight away win and 18th overall.

The defending champions hit the ground running, scoring two tries within the opening 10 minutes, and would have been expected to go on to win comfortably from there.

However, the Reds showed plenty of heart, especially on defence, as they made a number of massive hits to rattle the Crusaders into uncharacteristic errors. A little more composure from the home side on attack might have seen them get a very different result on the day.

Impressive Crusaders wing Brayden Ennor went over for a well-worked try after just seven minutes, and soon after, the visitors went coast-to-coast, with fullback Will Jordan on hand to score his first Vodacom Super Rugby try.

The Reds fought back well, holding out a couple of dangerous attacks from the Crusaders before captain Samu Kerevi scored to narrow the deficit to just three points at half-time.

The Crusaders turned to their maul in the second half, and it paid dividends as flank Whetu Douglas scored to put a bit of distance on the scoreboard.

A yellow card to flank Lukhan Salakaia-Loto for a cynical offside infringement was immediately punished by the Crusaders as Jordan Taufua went over from the back of a driving maul for their fourth try.

The Reds thought they had their second try of the evening when Liam Wright burst away from the back of a ruck, but it was ruled out when the TMO spotted an obstruction that allowed Wright to get through to the line.

That second try did finally come when a Reds maul sucked in a couple of Crusaders defenders, allowing replacement flank Scott Higginbotham to go over on the blindside after shrugging off a couple of defenders.

However, it was all too late from the home side, as the Crusaders won a turnover outside their own 22 from a Reds linebreak and held on to the ball from there to seal the win.

Reds – Try: Samu Kerevi. Conversion: Bryce Hegarty.
Crusaders – Tries: Braydon Ennor, Will Jordan, Whetukamokamo Douglas, Jordan Taufua. Conversion: Richie Mo’unga.

Reds – 15 Bryce Hegarty, 14 Chris Feauai-Sautia, 13 Jordan Petaia, 12 Samu Kerevi (c), 11 Sefa Naivalu, 10 Hamish Stewart, 9 Moses Sorovi, 8 Angus Scott-Young, 7 Liam Wright, 6 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 5 Harry Hockings, 4 Izack Rodda, 3 Taniela Tupou, 2 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 1 Feao Fotuaika.
Subs: 16 Alex Mafi, 17 JP Smith, 18 Ruan Smith, 19 Caleb Timu, 20 Scott Higginbotham, 21 Tate McDermott, 22 Duncan Paia’aua, 23 Isaac Lucas.

Crusaders – 15 Will Jordan, 14 Braydon Ennor, 13 Jack Goodhue, 12 Tim Bateman, 11 George Bridge, 10 Richie Mo’unga, 9 Mitchell Drummond, 8 Whetukamokamo Douglas, 7 Matt Todd (c), 6 Tom Sanders, 5 Quinten Strange, 4 Scott Barrett, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Andrew Makalio, 1 Joe Moody.
Subs: 16 Ben Funnell, 17 Harry Allan, 18 Michael Alaalatoa, 19 Luke Romano, 20 Jordan Taufua, 21 Bryn Hall, 22 Mitchell Hunt, 23 David Havili.

Photo:  Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

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Dylan Jack