Crucial win for Crusaders

Crockett: scored two tries for Crusaders

Canterbury Crusaders scored a crucial 20-14 win over Western Stormers in their Super 15 match at Newlands on Saturday.

Prop Wyatt Crockett touched down twice for the injury-hit New Zealanders, who came into the match missing Richie McCaw and Dan Carter and also suffered four injuries to their backs in the first half.

Full-back Israel Dagg, wing Sean Maitland, replacement full-back Adam Whitelock and scrum-half Kahn Fotuali'i all fell to injuries in a bruising encounter.

Crusaders were forced to play a forward in the backline for the second half yet still managed to produce a superb defensive performance.

Intense

The Stormers led 11-10 after a first half which contained high-intensity rugby between teams who retained possession well and defended resolutely.

But the momentum shifted in favour of Crusaders in the second half as Stormers lost their sharpness - the home side failing to find touch with clearance kicks several times and also losing line-outs.

Crusaders were first to score after 14 minutes when a superb one-handed offload by centre Sonny Bill Williams put Maitland away.

He passed inside to captain Kieran Read, who fed Crockett and the prop powered his way over.

After a penalty by fly-half Lionel Cronje, the Stormers went ahead through a try scored by centre Jaque Fourie.

It came after rookie wing Johann Sadie had made a diagonal break before Fourie outpaced the defence.

Cronje missed the conversion but landed a second penalty to give his side a slender lead.

Matt Berquist and Cronje swapped penalties early in the second half but it was not until the 63rd minute that either side could make a decisive breakthrough.

Standing firm

It was made by Crusaders after centre Robbie Fruean was tackled just short of the line. The ball was recycled and Crockett forced his way over, with Berquist adding the conversion.

Soon after Crockett's second try, Stormers failed to score from a line-out five metres from Crusaders' line but were awarded a penalty.

They opted for another line-out instead of kicking for the posts, then did the same when that drive was stopped by another Crusaders offence.

For the third time they drove but Crusaders' defence stood firm.

Crusaders conceded more penalties and had replacement back Tom Marshall yellow-carded in a tense three-minute period after full time.

Their opponents desperately sought to pull off a last-gasp win but once again Crusaders' defence proved impregnable.