Gallagher Chiefs hold off Crusaders in thrilling derby
The Gallagher Chiefs made it two victories from two in Super Rugby thanks to an impressive 25-15 triumph over the Crusaders in Hamilton on Saturday.
In a typical New Zealand derby, there was plenty of end-to-end action and momentum between the sides ebbed and flowed throughout. Although the Crusaders dominated the early exchanges, the Gallagher Chiefs improved as the match progressed and they eventually outscored the champions by three tries to two.
Solomon Alaimalo, Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi and Sean Wainui scored the Gallagher Chiefs’ five-pointers and their other points came via the boot of Aaron Cruden, who succeeded with two conversions and as many penalties.
For the Crusaders, Sevu Reece scored a brace of tries and David Havili added a conversion and a penalty.
The champions made a terrific start and took the lead in the fifth minute when Reece gathered a crossfield kick from Havili before crossing for the opening try. The Gallagher Chiefs replied with a penalty from Cruden, but the Crusaders struck back in the 14th minute when Havili found Reece with a long pass out wide and the All Black did well to step past Alaimalo on his way over the try-line.
The Gallagher Chiefs were under heat but soaked up the early pressure and were soon camped inside the Crusaders’ half. And in the 25th minute they reaped the rewards when Alaimalo ran onto a well-timed pass from Damian McKenzie before scoring in the left-hand corner.
Cruden failed with the conversion attempt, although the Gallagher Chiefs were back in the match with the Crusaders holding a narrow 12-8 lead. The Crusaders continued to hold an edge, however, and spent long periods inside Gallagher Chiefs territory but the home side did well to keep them at bay with a solid defensive effort.
The Gallagher Chiefs were fastest out of the blocks in the second half and three minutes after the restart Tahuriorangi spotted a gap at a ruck close to the Crusaders’ try-line before barging over for his side’s second try.
Shortly afterwards, Havili slotted a penalty which meant the sides were level at 15-15 by the 47th minute.
The Gallagher Chiefs continued to attack and were rewarded in the 58th minute when Brad Weber found Wainui with a brilliant offload inside Crusaders’ 22 and the wing had an easy run-in for his side’s third try.
The rest of the match was an arm wrestle as the Crusaders tried to fight back but they committed too many errors and just before full-time Cruden slotted his second penalty which sealed his team’s win.
Gallagher Chiefs 25 (Solomon Alaimalo, Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, Sean Wainui tries; Aaron Cruden 2 con, 2 pen) Crusaders 15 (Sevu Reece 2 tries; David Havili con, pen). HT: 8-12
