Crusaders beat Waratahs

2008-05-31 14:46

Brisbane - The Canterbury Crusaders won the Super 14 title on Saturday with a 20-12 victory over the New South Wales Waratahs in Christchurch.

Trailing by a point at halftime, the Crusaders stormed home on the boot of All Blacks fly-half Dan Carter, who kicked four penalties and a drop goal for a personal tally of 15 points.

The Waratahs put in a brave performance but the young players who took them to the final faltered on the big stage and allowed the more experienced Crusaders to dominate.

The Crusaders, who won their seventh Super title, sent coach Robbie Deans and former captain Reuben Thorne out on a winning note and kept their record of never having lost a play-off game on home soil intact.

The Waratahs scored two tries to one, but the Crusaders always looked likely to overhaul the visitors, and their swarming defence and relentless attacking pressure proved too much to handle.

Scorers:

Crusaders - Try: Mose Tuiali'i; Penalties: Dan Carter (4); Drop goal: Carter

Waratahs- Tries: Lachlan Turner (2); Conversion; Kurtley Beale.

- Reuters