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Ruthless Crusaders seal comfortable win over gutsy Sunwolves

April 21, 2018

Relive all of the action from the Crusaders' emphatic 33-11 victory over the Sunwolves at AMI Stadium, Christchurch.

FULLTIME: Crusaders 33 Sunwolves 11

TRY!! The Crusaders have one last chance as Romano works the ball wide to Crotty, who finds Bridge back inside. Bridge draws in the last defender before getting the pass away to Jack Stratton - who races away to score on debut as the final siren goes!

Hunt lines up the kick, and he's got it! That'll be it for tonight as the Crusaders seal a 33-11 win.

78 mins: Crusaders 26 Sunwolves 11

The Sunwolves penalised for not rolling away after over 20 phases from the Crusaders. Delany kicks for the lineout as the Crusaders look to pile on some more points, before Mitch Hunt comes on as a sub.

Makalio throws and the Crusaders drive. They work their way up towards the posts, but Samu's lost the ball forward. The referee wants to check upstairs for a high tackle from Moore on Hunt. No arms in the tackle, Hunt finds touch and the Crusaders will have a lineout right on the 5m line.

71 mins: Crusaders 26 Sunwolves 11

Scott Barrett penalised for not releasing at the breakdown and the Sunwolves this time take the lineout. They look to get the ball upfield and the Crusaders having to scramble in defence. Parker tries a kick through but it's messy and Tupou somehow ends up with it. The ball goes back inside to Moore, who spills it as the Crusaders' defence holds.

66 mins: Crusaders 26 Sunwolves 11

The Sunwolves go close after Tupou claims a high kick, but Tamanivalu gets back to save a certain try before the Crusaders turn the ball over to get out of trouble!

63 mins: Crusaders 26 Sunwolves 11

TRY!! The Crusaders on a roll now! Crotty finds Mataele out wide, who has a run down the wing but is tackled. From the back of the ruck, Drummond finds Bateman, who gets the ball back inside to Mataele again, and this time he's away to score! 

Delany with the kick from out wide, and he's missed his first of the night.

57 mins: Crusaders 21 Sunwolves 11

TRY!!  The Crusaders win another penalty from the back of a scrum and Delany kicks for the corner. Another penalty advantage from the lineout and Delany tries a kick through that doesn't come off. The Crusaders take another lineout right on the 5m line.

Scott Barrett spills the ball and the Sunwolves look to attack now. They kick the ball straight up into the breeze abd tge Crusaders will have another opportunity to attack. They get through 12 phases before the ball goes back to Crotty - who just runs straight up the middle to score the simplest of tries! His second of the night.

Delany again has no trouble with the kick.

50 mins: Crusaders 14 Sunwolves 11

Penalty!  The Sunwolves win another penalty from the scrum, this one right in front of the posts - and again they'll take the three.

Parker nails it and now the gap is just three points!

47 mins: Crusaders 14 Sunwolves 8

The Sunwolves go wide from the scrum and Litle has a burst at the line. The Crusaders' defence holds up for now. Samauki runs at the line before being tackled, Tanaka tries to get the ball free, but he's lost it! Golden opportunity blown for the Sunwolves!

44 mins: Crusaders 14 Sunwolves 8

Strange wins the ball from the kick off and the Crusaders look to hit back immediately. The Crusaders work the ball upfield, before Himeno wins it back. They look to kick but it falls straight to Bridge.

Bridge finds Dagg who kicks, but can only find Parker who returns fire - but Delany's spilled it! Everyone chases back but Bridge gets there first - the Sunwolves manage to tackle him in goal to force a 5m scrum. Great start here from the Sunwolves.

42 mins: Crusaders 14 Sunwolves 8

Penalty! And straight away the Crusaders infringe at the breakdown. The Sunwolves waste no time in opting to take the three. Parker lines up the kick and he's got it!

The Crusaders' lead cut to six points in the second half.

41 mins: Crusaders 14 Sunwolves 5

Both sides back out for the second half. The rain has eased, if not stopped, ahead of the second spell. Parker kicks off to get the game back underway.

HALFTIME: Crusaders 14 Sunwolves 5

The Sunwolves lose the ball forward as the siren goes in the background. That'll be halftime. The Sunwolves have done well after going behind in the very first minute, but the Crusaders will be kicking themselves after a number of missed opportunities. We'll be back soon for the second half.

40 mins: Crusaders 14 Sunwolves 5

The Crusaders knock the ball on at the lineout and again the Sunwolves look to clear, before going back to the scrum. The Crusaders are penalised at the scrum to give the Sunwolves a free kick.

Crusaders lineout, Makalio throws to the front but the Sunwolves force the ball into touch.

38 mins: Crusaders 14 Sunwolves 5

Another break for the Crusaders! This time it's Mataele, who sprints down his wing before getting the ball back inside to Delany. The first five is tackled but pops the ball back up to Perry, who's lost it, but is appealing for a penalty. 

The Crusaders have a lineout after the Sunwovles clear, before the visitors win another penalty and a lineout of their own. Parker looks to clear but the ball's not out. The Crusaders win a another penalty, and kick for the corner.

34 mins: Crusaders 14 Sunwolves 5

Strange steals the lineout throw for the Crusaders and again the home side attack. Drummond is taken out off the ball to win another penalty for the Crusaders.

Barrett claims the lineout throw and against the Crusaders look for the drive. Drummond gets the ball to Mataele who's tackled, Crotty has a go now but he knocks it on, the referee has the arm out.

Parker looks for the kick over the top, but play is called back for the knock on.

30 mins: Crusaders 14 Sunwolves 5

Delany puts a kick through and the ball sits up beautifully! Tupou gets back to cover, but is immediately met by Bateman and Blackadder! The duo force the Sunwolves fullback into grounding the ball to win a scrum!

Drummond feeds and they drive but the Sunwolves give away another penalty, great pressure from the Crusaders' pack here! Drummon feeds again, this time Sanders looks for the pick and go. Barrett has a crack at the line before being tackled. The Crusaders right in front of the posts now as Todd has a go, he's tackled. Blackadder has a turn but Labuschagne wins a penalty for the Sunwolves, great defence!

25 mins: Crusaders 14 Sunwolves 5

Scrum for the Crusaders just in front of their own 22, and they've won the penalty! Delany kicks downfield for the lineout. The Sunwolves win the throw but they're scrambling back with the ball.

The Crusaders turn it over and look to put the pressure on. Delany puts a kick through for Dagg, but there's too much on it as the ball rolls into touch.

18 mins: Crusaders 14 Sunwolves 5

The Sunwolves break through again! Parker finds a gap and is away, before firing a pass back inside to Lafaele. The centre is tackled but the Sunwolves look to go wide again, Little looks for a kick through but Israel Dagg is there to tidy up. He's tackled and loses the ball, but the referee stops play for a possible yellow card offence from the Sunwolves.

Dagg was dumped in the tackle by Labuschange, but there's no way this should be anything more than a penalty. It's now hailing in Christchurch too! The Crusaders will have a lineout to get things back underway.

15 mins: Crusaders 14 Sunwolves 5

TRY!!  The Sunwolves on attack now as Moore goes close, great speed from Tanaka to get the ball out but the Crusaders hold firm. The ref has the arm out for a Sunwolves advantage. They spin the ball out wide, Parker has a run at the line before getting the ball out to Little who scores! Sunwolves on the board now as the second five crosses over!

Parker with the kick - he hasn't missed a shot all season - but he has now! Crusaders ahead by nine.

Elsewhere, Ben Funnell has gone off injured, Andrew Makalio replaces him in the front row.

9 mins: Crusaders 14 Sunwolves 0

TRY!! Scrum for the Sunwolves now, but the Crusaders have only gone and won it - and guess who? It's Owen Franks proving his class in the front row. The Crusaders take the lineout option. Funnell throws and the Crusaders drive and they score! Matt Todd the scorer this time and it's all too easy for the home side at the moment.

Delany with the kick from the other wing this time, and he's got this one too!

5 mins: Crusaders 7 Sunwolves 0

The Crusaders with the ball just inside their own half. Bateman's pass is intercepted but the Sunwolves knock it on to give the Crusaders possession back. First chance for the returning Owen Franks at the scrum now.

1 min: Crusaders 7 Sunwolves 0

TRY!! The Sunwolves try to find touch, but the ball's not gone out and George Bridge counters! The Crusaders have the advantage and Mike Delany slices through! He fires a pass wide to Ryan Crotty who goes over to score in the very first minute! What a start from the Crusaders!!!

Delany with the kick from out wide, and he's nailed it!

KICK OFF: Crusaders 0 Sunwolves 0

We're away! Mike Delany kicks off to get this match underway in Christchurch.

7:36pm

Both sides observe a moment of silence for Canterbury legend Fergie McCormick, who passed away recently.

7:30pm

Matt Todd leads the Crusaders out on their home turf, before Pieter Labuschagne does the same for the visitors. Both sides will observe a tribute ahead of Anzac Day this week.

7:25pm

Good evening! Both sides have finished their warm ups, back in the sheds ahead of tonight's match. Kick off not too far away!

PRE MATCH

Having returned from a largely successful trip to South Africa and Argentina, the Crusaders are back in action against a Sunwovles side struggling for confidence.

After a gutsy loss to the Blues last week, the Japanese side's plight in Christchurch won't be made any easier, with the likes of Israel Dagg and Owen Franks named to start for the first time this season.

A win tonight would see the Crusaders keep pressure on the Hurricanes and the Highlanders, with the 2017 Champions looking to solidify their chances of back-to-back titles.

For the Sunwolves, all eyes will surely be on fan favourite and former Highlanders star Fumi Tanaka, given the nod to start at halfback against his old rivals.

TEAMS:

Crusaders:  15. George Bridge, 14. Israel Dagg, 13. Tim Bateman, 12. Ryan Crotty, 11. Manasa Mataele, 10. Mike Delany, 9. Mitchell Drummond, 8. Tom Sanders, 7. Matt Todd (c), 6. Ethan Blackadder, 5. Quinten Strange, 4. Scott Barrett, 3. Owen Franks, 2. Ben Funnell, 1. Tim Perry.

Substitutes : 16. Andrew Makalio, 17. Wyatt Crockett, 18. Chris King, 19. Luke Romano, 20. Pete Samu, 21. Jack Stratton, 22. Mitchell Hunt, 23. Seta Tamanivalu.

Sunwolves:  15. William Tupou, 14. Hosea Saumaki, 13. Timothy Lafaele, 12. Michael Little, 11. Kenki Fukuoka, 10. Hayden Parker, 9. Fumiaki Tanaka, 8. Kazuki Himeno, 7. Pieter Lappies Labuschagne (c), 6. Yoshitaka Tokunaga, 5. Grant Hattingh, 4. James Moore, 3. Jiwon Koo, 2. Jaba Bregvadze, 1. Craig Millar.

Substitutes : 16. Yusuke Niwai, 17. Shintaro Ishihara, 18. Takuma Asahara, 19. Sam Wykes, 20. Edward Quirk, 21. Yutaka Nagare, 22. Ryoto Nakamura, 23. Semisi Masirewa.

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