Crusaders struggle but overcome Sharks

CRUSADERS 23 SHARKS 18

Defending champions the Crusaders struggled to a 23-18 win in their Super 12 rugby match against the Sharks at Jade Stadium, Christchurch tonight.

They scored three tries to two and found the winner just three minutes from the end when No 8 Sam Broomhall put them into the lead for the first time with a try.

The cold and wet conditions made it difficult for both teams, who lost the ball at crucial times but the Crusaders made hard work of their victory over a team they were expected to put away in the first half.

Instead they trailed 3-6 at halftime and went further behind in the opening minute of the second spell when a quick lineout throw went wrong and Sharks fullback Brent Russell scored from a counter-attack.

But they worked steadily and displayed patience to grind out three tries by flanker Richie McCaw, replacement fullback Scott Hamilton and Broomhall.

The Sharks second try came from Trevor Halstead when they showed the same patience the Crusaders did to finally rumble across the line.

The Sharks dominated the first half and took advantage of a man short on the opposing side for 20 minutes after lock Norm Maxwell and then McCaw were sinbinned.

Maxwell took out AJ Venter away from the ball and McCaw handled in the ruck after coming in from the side.

But the Sharks had only a 6-3 lead, through a Butch James penalty goal and a drop-goal, to show at halftime despite their growing confidence, their lion's share of possession and significant territorial advantage.

They were held off the line on three occasions, each time they either lost the ball forward or to the opposition.

The Crusaders lost fullback Leon MacDonald in the 28th minute to a suspected hip injury and first five-eighth Dan Carter in the second half.

Russell stretched the Sharks lead when the second half was barely a minute old.

The Crusaders' first try followed nearly 20 rucks. They kept hammering the short side and the defence finally broke down when McCaw was forced over captain Reuben Thorne and Carter.

Not to be outdone, the Sharks hit right back and smashed the Crusaders defence with several phases of play and Halstead scored.

Then halfback Craig Davidson was sinbinned and the Sharks were pinned on defence for a significant period.

However, they put up a courageous defence to hold off the rampaging Crusaders.

The hammering they took then seemed to catch up on them and the defence came up short when the Crusaders moved the ball wide to the left and Hamilton finished off with a try.

Locked 18-18, Mauger missed a penalty goal attempt in the 74th minute but the winning move came just minutes later when the Crusaders pack twisted, turned and forced themselves over the line from a close lineout. Broomhall emerged from the melee with the ball .

Crusaders 23 (Richie McCaw, Scott Hamilton, Sam Broomhall tries; Leon MacDonald pen, Dan Carter pen, Aaron Mauger con)

Sharks 18 (Brent Russell Trevor Halstead tries, Butch James drop-goal, pen, con). Halftime: 3-6.

- NZPA