Crusaders cruise to victory

The Crusaders remain top of the Super League New Zealand Conference after leaving the Highlanders with a second-half spree.

The Canterbury side scored six tries en route to a 44-13 success at Carisbrook as their overpowered an error-strewn performance from the Otago outfit.

The Crusaders were dominant throughout with Robbie Fruean and Israel Dagg lethal on attack, while there was little for Highlanders supporters to cheer about as they spent most of the game on the back-foot, with loose forward Alan Thompson's try a mere consolation.

The Crusaders held a modest 10-6 lead at half-time after Fruean scored the only try of the opening period, aided by television match official Richard Kelly who confirmed he crossed the line despite the tackle of James Paterson and Shaun Treeby.

The Highlanders' points came from the boot of Tony Brown, but he also missed two penalty attempts and those misses were punished in the second-half when captain Kieran Read racing 30 metres for a try and an 18-6 lead.

Ruthless

The Highlanders brought on Jamie Mackintosh and Jason Rutledge but their goal-kicking woes continued as Robbie Robinson missed a straightforward attempt, while the Crusaders continued to apply most of the pressure.

And the away side ruthlessly punished turnovers, Fruean bursting clear, Sean Maitland being brought down by the posts and Dagg getting the overlap to score. Dan Carter converted from wide out and the Crusaders led 25-6 with 21 minutes remaining.

The Crusaders scored their fourth and bonus point try 12 minutes from the end when they overpowered the Highlanders at a scrum and replacement halfback Kahn Fotuali'i scored under the posts, Carter converting.

It was all the Crusaders now and Dagg scored his second try to extend the lead before Sonny Bill Williams helped lay on a try for replacement prop Wyatt Crockett, Matt Berquist's conversion making it 44-6.

Thomson went over late on with Robinson converting but it was nothing more than a consolation as the Highlanders stay third, four points off table-toppers Crusaders.