Crusaders v Hurricanes: Rob Penney’s side put pressure on Blues in race for home quarter-final with big win
Taha Kemara and Noah Hotham celebrate a Crusaders try. Photo / Photosport
Crusaders 47
Hurricanes 14
Job done for the Crusaders.
With a 47-14 bonus-point win over the Hurricanes, Rob Penney’s side have put themselves in position for a home quarter-final – for now. For that to happen, they will still need the Chiefs to beat the Blues tonight.
With the Wellington side having already locked up the top seed and opting to rotate their squad, the Crusaders were expected to control the contest.
They did that and then some, controlling the game with ball in hand and largely starving the visitors of possession.
The Crusaders got strong contributions from a host of players. Johnny McNicholl, likely the side’s first-choice fullback for the playoffs after Will Jordan was ruled out for the rest of the season, inserted himself into the attacking line with great impact, having some nice touches in the build-up to tries and scoring one of his own.
Young forwards Dominic Gardiner and Jamie Hannah continued to make their marks, midfielders David Havili and Dallas McLeod challenged the defence with some strong carries, while winger Sevu Reece was everywhere.
The Hurricanes will be buoyed by the returns of halfback Cam Roigard and tighthead prop Tyrel Lomax, the latter making just his second appearance of the season, with the two getting through the first half before being replaced.
Both teams will have injury concerns to monitor over the week ahead though. Crusaders tighthead prop Fletcher Newell left the field just after the 30-minute mark with a suspected leg injury and first five-eighth Rivez Reihana was forced out due to a head knock in the ninth minute.
Hurricanes lock Isaia Walker-Leawere also left the field after a head knock in the first half and did not return to the contest.
It was the Crusaders, who have been prominent in the headlines this week, who settled into their work on the field.
In his 100th appearance for the side, it was fitting that Reece opened the scoring – grabbing the ball from the ruck a couple of metres out and just doing enough to get the ball to the line through the Hurricanes’ defence. Reece also closed the scoring, with a second try in the final minutes – which he also converted from a wide angle.
Discipline hurt the Crusaders through the first quarter of the game, and an error in the passage immediately following Reece’s try led to the Hurricanes striking right back through loose forward Brad Shields.
But the Crusaders continued to build with ball in hand and that soon became telling on the scoreboard.
A great run from Havili set up an eventual Noah Hotham try, before McNicholl and No 8 Christian Lio-Willie scored in quick succession for the Crusaders to hold a 26-7 lead at the break.
As both sides went to their benches early in the second half, the contest got a bit loose as the minutes ticked away, but the Crusaders continued to test the Hurricanes’ defences; Cooper Roberts and Kyle Preston providing great impact from the bench.
A try to replacement hooker Manumaua Letiu kept the scoreboard ticking over, though it was soon answered with Hurricanes replacement prop Pouri Rakete-Stones powering over from close range.
A try to replacement halfback Preston and Reece’s second pushed the lead out again, though, and his conversion attempt from out wide never looked like missing.
Crusaders 47 (Sevu Reece 2, Noah Hotham, Johnny McNicholl, Christian Lio-Willie, Manumaua Letiu, Kyle Preston tries; Taha Kemara 5 cons, Reece con)
Hurricanes 14 (Brad Shields, Pouri Rakete-Stones tries; Callum Harkin 2 cons)
HT: 26-7