Crusaders drain Reds

Two late tries have enabled the Crusaders to overcome a dogged QR Reds 33-22 in the Investec Super 14 match at Jade Stadium on Saturday night.

The defending champions trailed by a point with eight minutes remaining but tries to  Scott Hamilton and Brent Ward saw the home team to achieve their first win of the season after their loss to the Blues last week.

The Crusaders scored five tries to two but they had to work extremely hard against a committed Reds pack led by David Croft, Hugh McMeniman and James Horwill.

The Reds, who had beaten the Hurricanes 25-16 in Brisbane last week, were in the game until the final minutes but, in the end, they were even denied a bonus point which they richly deserved.

Stephen Brett again stamped his class on the game for the Crusaders and his play-making ability was a decisive factor in the Crusaders' win.

The Crusaders began strongly and scored first in the 14th minute, from an over-thrown lineout, flanker Johnny Leo'o grabbed the ball and made ground and, from the phase play, Brett ghosted through a gap to score. He converted his own try to make it 7-0.

Lloyd Johansson and Ben Tune combined in a sweeping Reds attack but the Crusaders countered and, from a penalty, Brett was wide from 30 metres and on the angle.

The Crusaders extended their lead after 25 minutes when, after good lead-up work by Casey Laulala and Corey Flynn, lock Ross Filipo crashed over close to the posts and Brett converted to make it 14-0.

But the Reds were competitive and, when prop Greg Holmes barged over for their first try five minutes before the break, the deficit had been narrowed to 5-14.

The Reds continued to press and, when Crusaders lock Kevin O'Neill was pinged for obstruction, Clinton Schifcofske kicked an angled penalty to make it 14-8 at halftime.

It was a fair reflection of the trend of play in which the defence of both teams had been more accurate than their attack.

The Reds went straight on to the attack in the second spell and, when the Crusaders infringed, Schifcofske kicked an easy penalty to narrow the gap to three points. Three minutes later Schifcofske repeated the effort, from a wider angle, and the scores were level at 14-all.

The momentum was maintained when left wing Peter Hynes gathered in an ill-directed tactical kick by Rico Gear and raced 25 metres to the line. Schifcofske's conversion glanced off the right upright but the Reds, at 19-14, were ahead for the first time.

But the Crusaders struck back after 57 minutes when, after putting the Reds' scrum under pressure and getting the penalty, they took a tap penalty and No 8 Mose Tuialii powered over for the try. Brett converted to make it 21-19.

The Reds got back into Crusaders' territory and, from 24 metres and in front, Schifcofske kicked his fourth penalty to regain the lead for the Reds, 22-21.

The Reds pounded at the Crusaders' defence with more than 20 phases but eventually they were penalised and the chance to put the game away was lost.

Eight minutes from the end the Crusaders must a decisive thrust from an attacking scrum with Tuialii making ground and combing with Leo'o, Jake Paringatai and Brett to sens Scott Hamilton over for a crucial try. Brett converted to make it 28-22.

Then, with time almost up, Brett unleashed a pin-point cross-kick. which substitute Brent Ward gathered to score the Crusaders' fifth try and clinch a hard-earned win.

Crusaders 33

Tries: Stephen Brett,Ross Filipo, Mose Tuialii, Scott Hamilton, Brent Ward

Conversions: Brett 4

Reds 22Tries: Greg Holmes, Peter Hynes

Penalties: Clinton Schifcofske 4.