Crusaders roll the Canes
May 4, 2002

The Canterbury Crusaders have equalled the Auckland Blues' record of 10 wins in a Super 12 season with a 48-20 win against the Hurricanes in Wellington.

The Blues remained undefeated in 1997, but had one draw so the Crusaders can set a new mark of winning all 11 games in the preliminary season when they meet the second-placed Waratahs in Christchurch in the final round.

And should the Waratahs lose against the Reds at Ballymore on Sunday, the Crusaders will finish on top of the ladder in 2002, ensuring a Christchurch final should they win their semi-final.

The Crusaders looked like a side deserving of a Super 12 final with this seven-tries-to-two effort.

Unlike previous weeks, the Crusaders made a lightning start to lead 15-0 after only six minutes, courtesy of a double to winger Marika Vunibaka in the opening three minutes.

Both tries were the result of the Hurricanes turnovers, which made the task all the more harder for the home side that needed to win to have any chance of featuring in the semi-finals.

The Hurricanes responded well to reduce the lead to 15-13 through two penalties to David Holwell and an excellent try to centre Pita Alatini, but that was as close as they got against the ruthless Crusaders.

Form New Zealand back Aaron Mauger finished off a simple scissors movement in the 26th minute to extend the lead to 22-13 and four minutes later halfback Justin Marshall secured the Crusaders' fourth try for the bonus point.

The Crusaders led 29-13 at the break and replacement Crusaders fullback Leon MacDonald ensured it would take a giant Hurricanes revival to win the game when he scored to push the lead out to 34-13 in the 57th minute.

The Hurricanes learnt that failure to convert opportunities against the Crusaders is costly. Before both the Marshall and MacDonald tries, the Hurricanes were in excellent scoring positions and applying all the pressure, only for the Crusaders to force the turnover and reply almost immediately with tries of their own.

The final 20 minutes was played at a great pace with Hurricanes replacement Riki Flutey scoring a classic Hurricanes try in the 65th minute, but tries to Bradley Mika (71st min) and Nathan Mauger (76th min) ensured a handsome victory.

Scoreboard

CRUSADERS 48
Tries: Marika Vunibaka 2, Aaron Mauger, Justin Marshall, Leon Macdonald, Brad Mika, Nathan Mauger.
Conversions: Andrew Mehrtens pen, 3 cons, Ben Blair 2 cons.

HURRICANES 20
Tries: Pita Alatini, Riki Flutey tries.
Conversions: David Holwell 2 pens, con, Flutey con.

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