Crusaders reassert their top status

The Crusaders reasserted their status as New Zealand's premier Super 14 side when they manufactured a clever 26-19 win over the Chiefs in Hamilton on Friday night.

The Crusaders produced contrasting styles in each half to eventually triumph.

The win was good enough to take the Crusaders to the top of the table with the opening match of week five. The Bulls may well answer that in Pretoria but the red and blacks are still likely to be the best of the Kiwis by the end of the weekend.

Overshadowed by the Chiefs in last year's tournament, Todd Blackadder's side continues to grow in 2010.

With a strong wind behind them they used a bit of razzle dazzle to claim a seven point lead in the first half and then went back to some basics in the second spell to hold on for a cherished win at Waikato Stadium.

Dan Carter's boot - both with his goal and field kicking - was influential and so was the ability of the Crusaders forwards to play the multi-phase retention game, especially as conditions got greasy with some drizzle in the second half.

Carter scored 14 points to pass Crusaders legend Andrew Mehrtens' on the Super rugby scoring records with 996 points and has only Aussie great Stirling Mortlock in front of him now.

The Crusaders should be able to consolidate their campaign further next week when they host the Lions.

The Chiefs head off for a bye and think about how they can stop the rot of successive losses at home after opening with three wins on the road.

The Chiefs suffered an early blow when they lost Liam Messam to a hip injury, forcing them to bring on young Luke Braid and play two opensides to match the Crusaders' pair of Richie McCaw and George Whitelock.

Kahn Fotuali'i, standing in for injured All Blacks halfback Andy Ellis, had a strong game and was rewarded with two good tries.

The Chiefs' scrum problems that emerged in their loss to the Reds last week haunted them again although that was offset by some sloppy lineout work from the Crusaders.

Sitiveni Sivivatu and Lelia Masaga triggered some exciting counter-attacks with the elusive running and Brendon Leonard got in a couple of good sniping runs.

But the Chiefs' attacks were often blotted by poor handling at crucial moments and their much vaunted attack was restricted to just one try to Richard Kahui. In the end it was a deserved win for the Crusaders who applied more pressure in a quality New Zealand derby in tricky conditions.

The Chiefs made a good start with Stephen Donald gaoling two penalties into a stiff breeze inside the opening four minutes.

Carter cancelled out one of those with the Crusaders' first foray on to attack and the visitors then got a good try to Kahn Fotuali'i as they capitalised on a poor chip kick from Callum Bruce.

Donald and Carter traded further penalties as the points mounted by the minute.

It was end to end stuff and eventually advantage to the Crusaders with Fotuali'i featuring twice in a blindside burst to nail his second try.

The Chiefs' reply was quick and impressive with a big Colin Bourke making ground up the middle and then Donald taking the break further for Kahui to finish in style.

Carter goaled a further penalty to edge the Crusaders ahead 23-16 at the break.

A tight start the second half eventually saw Carter land a further penalty.

The Crusaders controlled things from there before infringing on halfway and Donald landed the penalty with eight minutes to go to give the Chiefs a sniff.

Carter missed a late dropped goal. but it didn't matter as they hung on.

Crusaders 26 (Kahn Fotuali'i 2 tries; Dan Carter 2 con, 4 pen) Chiefs 19 (Richard Kahui tries; Stephen Donald con, 4 pen). Halftime: 23-16.

- © Fairfax NZ News