Crusaders Stutter Past Reds
May 06,2012
Written by: Doron KatzThe 2011 finalists faced off in Christchurch where the Crusaders escaped with a narrow 15-11 win over the out-of-form visitors in a one-try match at Rugby League Park on Sunday.
The Reds looked to have come away with an upset win in New Zealand with twenty minutes remaining, leading 11-9.
But the ill-disciplined Reds conceded two penalties in the final ten minutes, with Tom Taylor nailing both in the hosts’ unimpressive win.
The Reds were the only ones to score a five-pointer, thanks to hooker James Hanson, in the second minute of the game, but the Crusaders held on to a 6-5 half time lead.
The Crusaders did not look like dominating or controlling the game at any stage. Although defence was seemingly unbreachable on both fronts, both sides made elementary errors - disappointing for the two best teams of 2011.
"IMO Reds were simply there to play a spoiling game not helped by the fact that the Crusaders were hell bent on making elementary errors when it was on. Must comment on McKenzie - he understands the Saders game plan inside out from last year - he commented on the fact that the Crusaders under Blackadder have some signature moves and plays at certain times of the game and position on the field and easy to read - what McKenzie does is to simply counter them and counter attack from the breakdown of those signature plays."
