Crusaders outlast HSBC Waratahs in Super 14 Final
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Saturday, 31 May 2008
NSWRU Media Unit
The Crusaders have won the 2008 Super 14 Final, defeating the HSBC Waratahs 20-12 at AMI Stadium, Christchurch.
Lachie Turner - down for his second try of the night.
Lachie Turner - down for his second try of the night. [2008 Super 14 - Final v Crusaders]
Tah Man finds fellow followers in blue.
Tah Man finds fellow followers in blue. [2008 Super 14 - Final v Crusaders]
Phil Waugh charging forward.
Phil Waugh charging forward. [2008 Super 14 - Final v Crusaders]
Commitment to the cause - Lote Tuqiri.
Commitment to the cause - Lote Tuqiri. [2008 Super 14 - Final v Crusaders]
The Waratahs scored two tries to one and held a narrow half-time lead, however the Crusaders kicked their way home in the second forty.
The match was still in the balance going into the last ten minutes, however the boot of Dan Carter drove the Crusaders home in the end.
Carter opened the scoring in just the fourth minute with a penalty, however the Waratahs hit back just four minutes later when a cross-field kick found Lachie Turner who went over out wide.
The Crusaders had chances to take the lead with Carter and Ellis both missing drop goals, and a further missed penalty kept the Waratahs in front a quarter of the way through the match.
An opportunist chip and chase from Turner resulted in a second try to the Waratahs, and with Beale's conversion NSW led 12-3 after 25 minutes.
A Carter penalty reduced the margin to six, however the turning point came with less than two minutes remaining in the first half when Mose Tuiali'i crossed in the right corner.
The conversion went astray, however the Waratahs lead had been reduced to just one point at the break, 12-11.
The Crusaders took the lead for the second time in the 46th minute when Carter hit his third penalty, and looked to have gone further ahead ten minutes later.
A turnover and counterattack resulted in some scrappy play near the NSW line and eventually the Crusaders crossed. Play however returned 60m downfield where Brad Thorn was yellow carded for punching a NSW player on the ground and the margin remained at two.
The Crusaders defence was brutal in the face of a NSW onslaught for the next ten minutes, however even with a one-man advantage the Waratahs could not close the gap.
Carter took the margin to five in the 70th minute with a penalty, and NSW continued to attack now needing a try to get back in the game.
However another penalty in the 75th minute took the margin to eight and the match was all but over.
Both sides had their chances in the closing stages, however with the match now gone errors littered the attack.
As they siren sounded, the Waratahs attacked but after a turnover the Crusaders kicked into touch and had secured yet another Super 14 title.
The Waratahs now fly home to Sydney where a public reception will be held at the SFS at 9:30am, with all fans encouraged to attend.
Lachie Turner's two tries raised another $1000 for HSBCkids, the tutoring and mentoring program run by HSBC and children's charity Barnardos, bringing the season total to $21,500.
Crusaders 20
Tries: Mose Tuiali'i
Conversions: Dan Carter 0/1
Penalty Goals: Dan Carter 4/5
Drop Goals: Dan Carter 1/2, Andy Ellis 0/1
HSBC Waratahs 12
Tries: Lachie Turner 2
Conversions: Kurtley Beale 1/2
By the clock
4th - Dan Carter penalty. Crusaders 3 HSBC Waratahs 0
8th - Lachie Turner try; Kurtley Beale missed conversion. Crusaders 3 HSBC Waratahs 5
12th - Dan Carter missed drop goal.
23rd - Dan Carter missed penalty goal.
25th - Lachie Turner try; Kurtley Beale conversion. Crusaders 3 HSBC Waratahs 12
33rd - Dan Carter penalty goal. Crusaders 6 HSBC Waratahs 12
38th - Mose Tuiali'i try; Dan Carter missed conversion. Crusaders 11 HSBC Waratahs 12
Half Time - Crusaders 11 HSBC Waratahs 12
46th - Dan Carter penalty goal. Crusaders 14 HSBC Waratahs 12
57th - Brad Thorn yellow card.
70th - Dan Carter drop goal. Crusaders 17 HSBC Waratahs 12
75th - Dan Carter penalty goal. Crusaders 20 HSBC Waratahs 12
Full Time - Crusaders 20 HSBC Waratahs 12
HSBC Score for Charity Tally: 39 tries, $21,500
HSBC is donating $500 for every try scored, and $1000 for every fourth try scored by the Waratahs, to the Score for Charity program, which raises money for HSBCkids, the tutoring and mentoring program run by HSBC and children's charity Barnardos.