On a dry and mild west coast evening in front of a near capacity crowd of 4000 at Rugby Park, Greymouth, the Crusaders’ 2012 campaign got off to a flying start in front of their faithful.
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The seven-time champions and beaten finalists last year beat the Highlanders 47-19 – with a Ryan Crotty hat-trick contributing to the Crusaders’ seven tries.
The Highlanders replied with three of their own, all in the second half, after the ‘home’ team had taken a commanding 35-0 lead at the break.
The Crusaders got off to a blistering start when flyhalf Ryan Crotty scored the first try three minutes into the match right under the posts which was then duly converted by Tyler Bleyendaal.
The Highlanders responded by winning the first line-out. However, their attack was nowhere to be seen in the first half as the Crusaders dominated possession.
Playing outstanding open rugby Crotty touched down for a second time after a run from halfway following a loose ball, putting the Crusaders ahead 14-0 after just 18 minutes.
With the Crusader scrum dominating the backs flourished with quality ball and Crotty scored his hat-trick just over six minutes into the second quarter.
Only minutes later the flyhalf, Bleyendaal, scored and then promptly converted to bring the score to 28 -0 to the Crusaders.
With the Highlanders dazed by the onslaught of attack, Willi Heinz scored the last points of the half with the Crusaders fifth try.
The Crusaders scored first after the break with loose forward, George Whitelock crossing the line, however it went unconverted with Bleyendaal’s first miss of the day.
Following a raft of substitutes the Highlanders then began a comeback and spent most of the quarter attacking in the Crusaders half. They were rewarded with their first try with three minutes to go in the third quarter when prop, Bronson Murray touched down. Chris Noakes converted to bring the score to 7-40.
The Highlanders continued their attacking momentum with Nasi Manu scoring for Highlanders in the first minute of the final quarter.
Crusaders debutant, hooker, Codie Taylor made a storming run from halfway to score the Crusaders last points for the match. Scrumhalf Andy Ellis converted from the sideline.
But with an admirable ‘never say die’ attitude in the closing seconds of the match, the Highlanders responded with a try by backs substitute Buxton Popoali’i.
The scorers:
For the Crusaders:
Tries: Crotty 3, Bleyendaal, Heinz, Whitelock, Taylor
Cons: Bleyendaal 5, Ellis
For the Highlanders:
Tries: Murray, Manu, Popoalii
Cons: Noakes 2
The teams:
Crusaders: 15 Tom Marshall, 14 Sean Maitland, 13 Robbie Fruean, 12 Ryan Crotty, 11 Adam Whitelock, 10 Tyler Bleyendaal, 9 Willi Heinz, 8 Luke Whitelock, 7 Matt Todd, 6 Joe Wheeler, 5 Tom Donnelly, 4 Ross Kennedy, 3 Nick Barrett, 2 Quentin MacDonald, 1 Wyatt Crockett (captain).
Replacements – from: Joe Moody, Ben Franks, Sam Prattley, Ben Funnell, Codie Taylor, Luke Romano, Dominic Bird, Brendon O’Connor, George Whitelock, Mark Swanepoel, , Mitchell Scott, Patrick Osborne, Andy Ellis.
Highlanders: 15 Ben Smith, 14 Telusa Veainu, 13 Kendrick Lynn, 12 Glenn Dickson, 11 Kade Poki, 10 Lima Sopoaga, 9 Jimmy Cowan, 8 Elliot Dixon, 7 John Hardie, 6 Adam Thomson, 5 Culum Retallick, 4 Daniel Ramsay, 3 Ma’afu Fia, 2 Andrew Hore, 1 Bronson Murray.
Replacements – from: Jason Rutledge, Chris King, Hoani MacDonald, Doug Tietjens, Aaron Smith, Chris Noakes, Buxton Popoali’i, Nemia Kenatale, Nick Crosswell, Brayden Mitchell, Nasi Manu.
Referee: Jono White
Assistant referees: Kane McBride, Spencer Tait