Crusaders captain David Havili has helped secure their finals position and heightened their push for a home qualifying final with a 36-32 win over the Chiefs.
Havili dived over for the match-winning try with four minutes to go after flipping the field position with a 50-22 kick from well inside his 22.
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The Chiefs had their chance to steal victory after the siren, with a long-range penalty attempt from Taha Kemara, meaning they had to run the length of the field, which they nearly did.
Isaac Hutchinson and Kyren Taumoefolau burst through the line and into the 22; however, they were isolated and turned over, sealing the win for the hosts and keeping their unbeaten run at One NZ Stadium alive.
In doing so, the Crusaders have officially secured their spot in the finals, whilst trailing the Blues for third by just two points.
The Chiefs looked to quiet the crowd early as slick hands found Taumoefolau in the corner, who finished well for the opener.
Scrumhalf Noah Hotham nearly got the Crusaders right back in the game after a quick lineout with Sevu Reece, with his 40 metre effort denied by the TMO thanks to an excellent try-saver by Hutchinson.
The hosts kept the pressure on and had the Chiefs in danger of a yellow card after a series of penalties, with flanker Leicester Fainga’anuku capitalising with a burst from close.
But the story of the first half was the Chiefs' ability to instantly answer points from the Crusaders as their rolling maul proved too powerful to stop, allowing Samisoni Taukei’aho to get his ninth of the year.
Locks Jamie Hannah and Josh Lord crossed for their respective teams, while Christian Lio-Willie’s effort reduced the Chiefs’ lead to two on half-time.
But the Crusaders took the lead for the first time in the game as Johnny McNicholl and Sevu Reece combined to put the replacement over in the corner.
A smart lineout move gave the Chiefs back the advantage, with Josh Jacomb’s penalty extending the lead to eight.
McNicholl’s second gave the hosts life, and the efforts from Havili were the difference, capitalising on an unforced error by the Chiefs as he latched onto a Fainga’anuku offload and dived over.
