The Crusaders have confirmed their Super 12 claims with a 30-11 win against the Blues in Christchurch.
Notorious slow starters, the Crusaders are one of the competition front-runners with three consecutive wins and after this impressive display are sure to threaten in 10 weeks.

The Blues, however, have crashed to a second defeat in as many weeks and their 60-7 win against the Hurricanes two weeks ago now seems a distant memory.

The Crusaders scored two tries to one, but it was only through Blues infringements in their own half and the accurate boot of Andrew Mehrtens that they did not score more tries such was their dominance. The second-half was not quite as impressive as the opening 40 minutes, but the Crusaders did well to retain their composure in defence when the Blues threatened a comeback.

Mehrtens was prominent for a third week with a personal haul of 20 points. The victory was by no means set up by Mehrtens but by a classic Crusaders effort that involved the whole team. Fullback Leon MacDonald led the backline while lock Chris Jack had a towering game in the forwards.

It took until the 54th minute before the Blues crossed for their first try and despite a minor revival midway through the second half could not deny the Crusaders a deserved victory.

The Crusaders could not have asked for a better start when centre Aaron Mauger finished off a well-worked movement down the blindside 30m out. Mehrtens and Carlos Spencer swapped penalty goals, but the Crusaders were always dominant and Mehrtens continued to convert the pressure to put his side ahead 17-6 at half-time.

Another two penalties to Mehrtens extended the lead to 23-6 before Bradley Mika crossed for another gem of a try to give the Crusaders a match-winning 30-6 lead.

The Blues brought James Arlidge on at five-eight to spark a little more in attack and it paid quick dividends when he made a 40m break that eventually led to captain Glenn Taylor scoring from a 5m lineout in the 54th minute.

But the Crusaders held on and now head to Brisbane to meet the Reds in Round Four, while the Blues have a bye.

Scoreboard

Crusaders 30
Tries: Aaron Mauger, Brad Mika tries.
Goals: Andrew Mehrtens 6 pen, con.

Blues 11
Tries: Glenn Taylor try.
Goals: Carlos Spencer 2 pen.