Crusaders go top in Perth

The Crusaders clambered to the top of the Super 14 table courtesy of a pulsating 29-24 victory over Western Force in Perth on Sunday, coming back from 24-12 down to make it four wins from four.

The experienced New Zealanders showed their championship pedigree at the Subiaco Oval as they came storming back to beat a battling Force outfit.

It was a scintillating first half with five tries to excite the Perth fans in the Force's first home appearance of the campaign - David Pocock, Ryan Cross and Richard Brown cancelling out Crusader scores from Dan Carter and Greg Somerville.

When Lachlan MacKay scored a try early in the second and Matt Giteau converted, the Force led 24-12 but that only sparked the visitors into action.

They scored the last 17 points of the match to get home and leave the Force with two wins from four matches.

Dominant

The Force dominated the first ten minutes and were rewarded when Pocock crossed for his first top-flight try.

Carter then drew blood in the battle between fly-halves when Giteau's tackle slipped off him and he cruised past MacKay to the line in the 15th minute. He then converted to put the Crusaders up 7-5.

Ten minutes later and the Crusaders extended their lead thanks to a try from Somerville on his return to the starting line-up. After some good work in the scrum, he put his head down and got through the Force defence.

Two minutes later Giteau made up for his earlier missed tackle by setting Cross a path to the try-line, which he eagerly accepted to continue his good form from South Africa. Giteau converted to level scores at 12-12.

Then, six minutes before half-time, Scott Staniforth and Cross brilliantly set up Brown to storm over for the Force's third try.

Second half

The Force's fourth try came nine minutes into the second half when MacKay made a welcome return from a seemingly never-ending injury run to baulk his way through the Crusaders defence.

Ali Williams then crossed for the easiest try of the game five minutes later. He took a quick free-kick and dived over the line with the Force unable to hold him up.

Almost straight after Mose Tuiali'i made a great run along the sideline and passed off to scrum-half Andy Ellis, who made a good catch that enabled him to cross for the Crusaders' fourth try. When Carter converted, scores were tied at 24-24 after trailing by 12 just minutes earlier.

The Crusaders then stormed ahead when Casey Laulala made Shepherd and Giteau pay for poor kicking attempts and crossed at the 68-minute mark for a try.

The Force had one last play to snatch the win after time was up, but Sharpe threw a pass into touch and that was the game.