Crusaders score bonus-point win over Blues in Christchurch
Last Updated: 25/04/15 2:58pm
The Crusaders ran in four tries for a bonus-point 29-15 success over the Blues in Christchurch on Saturday.
They made a flying start at AMI Stadium before being reeled back in, but had enough to pull away again in the second half.
The Crusaders were quick off the mark and were ahead two minutes in, Mitchell Drummond crossing after a break from Nemani Nadolo. Colin Slade added the extras for a 7-0 lead.
They continued to pour forward and added a second try on 16 minutes. Nadolo was the creator again, stepping in and out of tackles and putting up the final pass to Jordan Taufau who did the rest, with Slade again on the money with the extras.
Dan Bowden got the Blues going with a penalty, and they cut the deficit further nine minutes before the break when Munster-bound Francis Saili slipped past Dan Carter's tackle and dotted down, with Bowden converting to make it 14-10.
The Crusaders would score the final points of the half, though, with Slade splitting the posts with a late penalty.
The hosts continued where they left off in the second half, Tom Taylor breaking clear to score a third try and Slade converting, and a bonus-point score arrived on the hour-mark as Codie Taylor went in after good set-up play from Carter.
The Blues rallied through an unconverted 63rd-minute Brendon O'Connor try but there would be no grand comeback.
