The Crusaders have secured a bonus point win defeating the NSW Waratahs 54-28 in an entertaining clash at WIN Stadium in Wollongong.
In incredibly windy conditions it was the Crusaders who got on the board first, with scrumhalf Mitch Drummond finishing off a break from Sevu Reece in the 9th minute of the game.
The Waratahs kept the scoreboard ticking over with Will Harrison slotting two penalties before the Crusaders added three tries with Cody Taylor, Sevu Reece and Dallas McLeod dotting down before the break for a 26-9 lead at half-time.
The Waratahs poor run of luck with injuries continued with Ben Donaldson leaving the field late in the first half with a groin complaint.
The Crusaders started the second half as they finished the first, scoring in their first possession through Scott Barrett after an initial break from Richie Mo’unga.
The Waratahs sprang back into life in the 50th minute scoring two tries in quick succession, closing the gap to 33-23. Jack Maddocks crashed over off a scrum move from 5m out, while Izaia Perese, the Waratahs best on the ground, finished off a nice sweeping backline move and barged over the top of Will Jordan.
The Crusaders punished any Waratahs mistake or turnover, scoring three more tries with Leicester Fainga'anuku, Brynn Hall and Will Jordon all grabbing five pointers.
The Waratahs fought till the end and Alex Newsome scored the last try of the day, dotting down in the corner in the final play of the match.
“I don’t think we’re far away,” Waratahs co-coach Chris Whitaker said. “It’s just about finishing off games.
“I think we had some opportunities in that first 10 minutes and down their end we didn’t come away with a try,”
“Probably a bit conservative in that first half with the wind. We looked pretty good against them when we played some footy.”
Despite the result it was a special night for Jack Dempsey who played his 50th Super Rugby match for the Waratahs.
The Waratahs will now turn their attention to their round four match against the Highlanders in Dunedin next Saturday.
Crusaders 54 (Tries: Drummond, Taylor, Reece, McLeod, Barrett, Fainga’anuku, Hall, Jordan Conversions: Mo’unga 7) defeated Waratahs 28 (Tries: Newsome, Perese, Maddocks Conversions: Harrison 2, Penalties: Harrison 3) at WIN Stadium, Wollongong
WARATAHS (1-15): Angus Bell, Dave Porecki, Harry Johnson-Holmes, Jeremy Williams, Jack Whetton, Lachie Swinton, Jack Dempsey, Will Harris, Jake Gordon (c), Ben Donaldson, Alex Newsome, Lalakai Foketi, Izaia Perese, Jack Maddocks, Will Harrison
Reserves: Joe Cotton, Te Tera Faulkner, Darcy Breen, Sam Caird, Carlo Tizzano, Jack Grant, Tepai Moeroa, Mark Nawaqanitawase
CRUSADERS: (1-15): George Bower, Codie Taylor, Michael Alaalatoa, Quinten Strange, Scott Barrett (c), Whetukamokamo Douglas, Sione Havili Talitui, Cullen Grace, Mitchell Drummond, Richie Mo'unga, Leicester Fainga'anuku, Dallas McLeod, Braydon Ennor, Sevu Reece, Will Jordan
Reserves: Nathan Vella, Tamaiti Williams, Oliver Jager, Samuel Whitelock, Mitchell Dunshea, Bryn Hall, Fergus Burke, Manasa Mataele
