Crusaders escape against Brumbies as Blues crush Rebels
Issued on: The Blues crushed the Melbourne Rebels 50-3 William WEST AFP 3 min
Christchurch (New Zealand) (AFP)
The Canterbury Crusaders escaped with a 31-29 win over the ACT Brumbies while a clinical Blues crushed the Melbourne Rebels to maintain New Zealand s dominant start to the trans-Tasman Super Rugby competition Saturday.
After trailing 19-7 at half-time in Christchurch the Brumbies fought back and had the chance to snatch a draw when Rob Valetini scored in the last play of the game, only for Noah Lolesio to send the conversion left of the uprights.
Richie Mo unga
Photo: Photosport
Tries from Tom Banks and Rob Valetini hauled the Brumbies back into the game after the Crusaders, winners of this year s Super Rugby Aotearoa, looked to have done enough thanks to second-half efforts from Brendon O Connor and Cullen Grace.
But Lolesio s missed conversion after Valetini s 80th-minute try left Crusaders coach Scott Robertson breathing a sigh of relief.
However, the performance was an encouraging one for Australian rugby after defeats for both the Reds and the Waratahs in the opening rounds of the competition with the New Zealanders on Friday.
Ethan Blackadder had put the Crusaders in front with barely five minutes on the clock but Scott Sio scored for the Brumbies in the 27th minute.