Crusaders beat Blues, Chiefs over Reds
- 20 hours ago
- 2 min read
Updated: 16 hours ago
The Crusaders' have dominated the later stages of the game to score a 36-20 win over the Blues in Christchurch as Leicester Fainga'anuku stood out again, firstly at flanker and later in the backline.
However the initial individual effort went to George Bower who marked his 100th Super Rugby appearance with his first ever try.
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Later in the half Fainga'anuku showed off his full range of skills, sending a chip over the top, which Sam Nock couldn't control, allowing lock Jamie Hannah to swoop and score.
The visitors then scored a long-range try to centre AJ Lam and then took a 13-12 halftime lead thanks to Sam Nock spotting a small gap to dive over.
The Crusaders struck just after the break, with a nifty step by Rivez Reihana sending him in between the sticks untouched.
Replacement halfback Kyle Preston extended the lead with another counter-attacking try, sparked by a big break by hooker George Bell.
Hoskins Sotutu offered the Blues a glimmer of hope, when he muscled over, but that was quickly quashed, when Fainga'anuku kicked along the carpet and winger Sevu Reece won the race.
Bell drove with another try to yet again send the Blues home from Christchurch in defeat.
The Crusaders have a bye in round 14 while the Blues host the Hurricanes next Saturday at Eden Park.
All Blacks loose forward and hooker Wllace Sititi and Samisoni Taukei'aho both scored a double as the Chiefs held off Queensland Reds 31-21 in Brisbane for a sixth successive wins in Super Rugby Pacific.
They were among the better performers for the visitors, who had to work hard to see off the tough Aussies, after they closed within three points entering the dying stages.
Sititi burst clear off the back of a scrum for his second try to make the outcome safe and lift the Chiefs level with the Hurricanes at the top of the standings.
However, the Hurricanes have a game in hand, to be played against last-placed Moana Pasifika on Saturday night.
Sititi also scored the Chiefs' first try, in response to an early score from Reds winger Lachie Anderson.
Damian McKenzie's boot put the New Zealand side 10-7 ahead, after a tense first half, but the game broke open after the interval.
Both of Taukei'aho's tries came from lineout drives, while the Reds stayed in the game with spectacular tries from Louis Werchon and Treyvon Pritchard.
The Chiefs host Highlanders in Hamilton next week..
