Rampant Crusaders crush Reds

Defending champions Crusaders ran in five tries to crush the Reds 32-12 in Christchurch and keep their Super 14 semi-final hopes alive.

The home side - who moved into the top four with the win - dominated a Reds side which included four club players in their injury-riddled squad.

This left the visitors vulnerable, especially in the scrums, and they often resorted to deliberate infringements to keep the hosts at bay, with one costing Quade Cooper a yellow card.

The rainy conditions meant both teams dropped the ball, costing the Crusaders several try-scoring opportunities, but they still managed to run in three tries to post a commanding 20-0 lead at the break.

The hosts started the match at a good pace and Leon MacDonald opened the scoring from in front of the posts after the Reds were penalised for strolling offsides.

Ten minutes later, and after three halted advances towards the opposition's line, Crusaders number eight Thomas Waldrom powered over for his side's opening try, which was duly converted by MacDonald.

Knock on

Kieran Read thought he had scored his side's second soon after but was correctly ruled to have knocked the ball on over the line, with scrum-half Brendan McKibbin performing some brilliant defensive work.

But Crusaders prop Ben Franks dived over untouched in the corner for his first Super Rugby try after a well-timed pass by lock Isaac Ross, although MacDonald missed the touchline conversion.

Two minutes before half-time, inside centre Tim Bateman scored the third try following a burst down the left-hand touchline by midfield partner Ryan Crotty.

Crotty did well to hurtle 40 metres along the sideline after being put away by Bateman, but some excellent cover defence from Ben Lucas allowed the Reds full-back to drag the attacking player into touch.

However, a desperate pass by Crotty kept the ball in play, which Bateman did well to pick up at pace and score, although television replays later showed that Crotty's boot was in touch before he got the pass away.

MacDonald missed the extras, but the Crusaders then started the second-half in the same fashion with another try - the most important one of the match - to hooker Jason Macdonald which gave the hosts a crucial bonus point.

Standing ovation

This time MacDonald, who is off to Japan at the conclusion of the tournament, did manage to convert - the last points the veteran full-back will score in a Crusaders' jersey at the AMI Stadium as he was substituted soon after to a standing ovation.

Wing Sean Maitland kept the Crusaders' momentum going, touching down for the fifth try in the 63rd minute after Waldrom and replacement Hamish Gard helped in the build-up, although Gard missed the wide conversion.

But the Reds at last started to find some rhythm to finally test the Crusaders' defence after the home side made a rash of substitutions in the final quarter.

The visitors pounced when replacement back Ben Tapuai ran into open space to score unopposed, with Cooper kicking the conversion.

A Stephen Brett blunder donated the Reds their second try, a foolish kick giving the ball to the opposition and replacement prop Greg Holmes was the benefactor, although it proved to be too little, too late.