Crusaders beat Blues at Eden Park

The 2012 Super Rugby season kicks off with a cracker of a match between the Blues and Crusaders at Eden Park where the Southern Hemisphere rugby season came to an end in October last year.

Match detail

We are waiting for the kick off.

The Blues kick off and we are underway!

2.00: The Blues show early signs of wanting to run but they knock on. Early season nerves.

5.00: TRY. The first try of the season is scored by Chris Lowrey and Michael Hobbs converts.

8.00: The Crusaders get some points back as . Tyler Bleyendaal bangs over a penalty.

9.00: Wow, the Blues score again as Rene Ranger creates a break and the ball goes wide to David Raikuna.

10.00: Hobbs misses the penalty.

12.00: The Crusaders are starting to get back into the game. They win a penalty so Bleyendaal takes the shot and nails it.

15.00: Scrum on the half way line. The Crusaders win the ball but kick it and it goes straight out. The scrum came after Hobbs had kicked the ball out on the full.

17.00: A bit of aerial ping pong as both teams go to the boot.

18.00: The Crusaders are slowly working the ball into the Blues 25. The pressure pays off as Robbie Fruean scores the Crusaders first try. Slipped through the defence as the rain comes down.

19.00: Bleyendaal takes the conversion and nails it. Crusaders lead.

21.00: The Blues win a penalty for tackler not releasing. It's a way out. Heavy rain now.

22.00: Hobbs kicks for touch instead of the posts.

23.00: The Blues win the line out and attack. They move the ball to the far side. After several phases on attack the Crusaders turn the ball over.

25.00: Blues line out is not working as well as it could.

26.00: The Crusaders win a scrum just on the Blues 25, they kick through the Blues defence but the ball goes into touch.

28.00: Ooh. High tackle by Hobbs on Crotty. He gets told to keep them down but no cards. The Crusaders get a penalty and Bleyendaal nails it.

31.00: Crusaders territory currently at 62%.

33.00: Crusaders go on attack. After 10 phases Crotty finds a gap but the Blues turn it over and Rene Ranger shows some real pace but is caught (Maitland) and the ball bounces out. Great defence from Read.

35.00: Blues putting the Crusaders under pressure in their 25. The Blues win a scrum and Mathewson gets over the line but loses the ball in a Kieran Read tackle.

38.00: The Blues still have the Crusaders under pressure. The Crusaders win a scrum and Ellis clears. Its not as good as he would have liked.

39.00: The Blues win a penalty but instead of going for posts they go for the line out.

40.00: Blues win the line out but it's scrappy (Crusaders knocked on). We go back for the scrum as the siren sounds.

41.00: Blues win the scrum but there is interference so the Crusaders get a penalty. Maitland takes it quickly but it comes to nothing. It's half time.

The half time score was Blues 12 Crusaders 16

The second half is underway.

41.00: The Crusaders kick off but the Blues explode into action and the pressure pays off as they win a penalty.

42.00:Hobbs takes the shot and nails it.

44.00: The Blues are looking very threatening at the moment. Lots of running. There is a bit of a tussle on the field but there is nothing in it.

47.00: Crusaders running the ball at the Blues again but the Blues force them to take the ball out.

48.00: Blues win a penalty from the line out but its in their own half. They go for the line out.

50.00: Rudi Wulf shows Auckland what they have been missing for the last year or so with a powerful run. The Blues are probing all over the field.

52.00: The Blues get a penalty so Hobbs takes the shot but misses.

54.00: The Blues win a penalty. Kieran Read is told to talk to his team for repeat infringements. Hobbs takes the penalty and nails it. The Blues lead.

56.00: Piri Weepu is about to come on to the field. He is on.

59.00: The Crusaders win a penalty so Bleyendaal takes the kick but he misses.

62.00: Crusaders in the Blues 25. They concede a penalty so Hobbs clears.

63.00: Keven Mealamu comes off.

65.00: Crusaders attack as Dagg breaks, Toeava saves the day (certain try) but the Crusaders get a penalty. Tyler Bleyendaal takes the shot, nails it and the Crusaders lead.

67.00: Another penalty for the Crusaders. Bleyendaal takes the kick from 45m out, he misses.

69.00:The Crusaders are starting to gain some momentum here. Threatening the Blues.

70.00: Crusaders pressing hard. Fruean breaks and comes close but the Blues win a penalty and then another 10m for Andy Ellis' back chat.

72.00: Fruean runs at Piri Weepu and Weepu is sent flying backwards. Power.

75.00: Crusaders keeping the ball in the Blues half and keeping the hosts under plenty of pressure.

77.00: The Blues have the ball but they are in their own half. Crusaders playing the time game well.

79.00: Blues win a penalty and kick deep. They find touch.

80.00: Blues win the line out, Weepu goes back for the drop perhaps. He goes for the drop but its charged down. Thats it.

The full time score is Blues 18 Crusaders 19

Scorers

Blues
Tries - C Lowrey, D. Raikuna
Pen - M Hobbs 2
Con - M Hobbs
Drop -
Cards -

Crusaders
Tries - R.Fruean
Pen - T. Bleyendaal 7
Con - T Bleyendaal
Drop -
Cards -

Match Officials
Referee: Chris Pollock
AR1: Glen Jackson
AR2 : Mike Fraser
TMO : Vinny Munro

Teams

Blues:

1. Tom McCartney,2. Keven Mealamu (c),3 Charlie Faumuina,4. Anthony Boric,5. Ali Williams ,6. Chris Lowrey,7. Daniel Braid,8. Jerome Kaino,9. Alby Mathewson,10. Michael Hobbs ,11. Rudi Wulf,12. Benson Stanley,13. Rene Ranger,14. David Raikuna,15. Isaia Toeava

16 Pauliasi Manu,17 Tevita Mailau,18 Brad Mika,19 Luke Braid,20 Piri Weepu,21 Hadleigh Parkes,22 Sherwin Stowers

Crusaders:

1. Wyatt Crockett, 2. Quentin MacDonald, 3. Ben Franks, 4. Tom Donnelly, 5. Samuel Whitelock, 6. George Whitelock, 7. Matt Todd, 8. Kieran Read (capt), 9. Andy Ellis (vice capt), 10. Tyler Bleyendaal, 11. Israel Dagg, 12. Ryan Crotty, 13. Robbie Fruean, 14. Sean Maitland, 15. Tom Marshall

Reserves:, 16. Corey Flynn, 17. Owen Franks, 18. Luke Romano, 19. Luke Whitelock, 20. Willie Heinz, 21. Partrick Osborne, 22. Adam Whitelock

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