27/04/2008 20:00

Wellington - The last three rounds in rugby's Super 14 are likely to be among the most cut-throat in its history with eight teams firmly in the race for four play-offs spots.

The Crusaders banked their seventh four-try bonus point in nine games, bouncing back from their first loss of the season to beat the Blues 26-22 in the 11th round and open a seven-point gap at the top of the table.

That margin and their tally of 43 competition points virtually assures them a semi-final spot, although they can't yet begin to prepare for a home semi because of the tightness of the race behind them.

Only five points separate the second-placed Waratahs from the sixth-placed Stormers - both winners in round 11 - and beyond those teams the Brumbies (28 points) and the lues (26) retain mathematical play-off chances.

The Waratahs' 25-10 win over the Sharks on Saturday, inflicting the Sharks' second-straight loss after a seven-game winning streak, moved the New South Wales team (36 points) into second place on the table, four ahead of the Sharks and the Waikato Chiefs.

Those four teams have temporary residence in the top four but behind them the Hurricanes and Stormers (31 points) and the Brumbies and Blues are clamouring for admission.

Gripping contests

The Western Force (24 points) and the Reds, Bulls, Otago Highlanders, Cheetahs and Lions have now fallen out of the race.

The last three rounds contain some gripping contests between top-eight teams.

The Crusaders and Sharks, Stormers and Brumbies meet in round 12; the Stormers and Waratahs meet in round 13 and the Blues and Hurricanes, Sharks and Chiefs play in final-round matches which may decide play-off places.

The Crusaders showed they won't easily be displaced from the top of the table with their clinical win over the Blues, who had been fuelled by desperation to keep their play-off hopes alive.

Former All Blacks hooker Corey Flynn scored two tries and spent 10 minutes in the sin-bin in a mixed performance which helped the Crusaders to their ninth win in 10 games.

"Both sides created (chances)," Canterbury coach Robbie Deans said. "Our finishing was slightly better and our resoluteness on defence was possibly the difference."

Wycliff Palu scored two of four tries for the Waratahs who tipped up the Sharks in Sydney, consigning the South African team to another loss which jeopardizes its playoffs status.

The Sharks, who have been high-fliers all season, now face possible elimination from the play-offs with matches to come against the first-placed Crusaders and fourth-placed Chiefs.

Waikato kept up a winning streak stretching back to round five when it beat the Reds 32-20 in Hamilton. Flyhalf Stephen Donald became the leading scorer in this season's competition with 118 points and winger Lelia Masaga scored two tries to become the top tryscorer with six.

The Chiefs will play their last three matches of the regular season on the road, against the Western Force, Lions and Sharks, as they attempt to seal a top-four spot.

"I can't wait, really," coach Ian Foster said. "We have played ourselves into a position where we have a chance. It's exciting to be in the hunt."

Wellington scored six tries to beat the Cheetahs 38-20, enhancing their play-off challenge, and the Brumbies kept in the race with a 28-21 win over the Lions.

"It was one of the ugliest wins I've ever been involved with," Brumbies captain Stirling Mortlock said. "We certainly didn't make it easy on ourselves."

Weekend summaries:

Canterbury 26 (Corey Flynn 2, Richie McCaw, Ti'i Paulo tries; Stephen Brett 3 conversions), Auckland 22 (Rudi Wulf, Nick Williams, David Smith tries; Nick Evans 2 conversions, penalty). HT, 12-7.

ACT 28 (Mark Gerrard, Christian Leali'ifano, Stirling Mortlock tries, Gerrard, Mortlock conversions, Mortlock 2, Gerrard penalties), Lions 21 (Earl Rose 2, Cobus Grobbelaar tries, Rose 3 conversions). HT, 13-7.

Waikato 32 (Lelia Masaga 2, Stephen Donald, Sione Lauaki tries; Stephen Donald 3 conversions, 2 penalties), Queensland 20 (Morgan Turinui 2, Digby Ioane tries; Berrick Barnes conversion, dropped goal). HT, 24-3.

New South Wales 25 (Wycliff Palu 2, Sam Norton-Knight, Tom Carter tries, Kurtley Beale conversion, Lote Tuqiri penalty), Sharks 10 (Odwa Ndungane try, Ruan Pienaar conversion, Francois Steyn penalty). HT, 3-0.

Stormers 26 (Tiaan Liebenberg, Schalk Brits tries; Peter Grant 2 conversions; Tony Brown 3, Grant penalties), Otago 16 (Fetu'u Vainikolo try; Blair Stewart conversion; Mike Delany 2 penalties; Delany drop goal). HT, 9-9.

Wellington 38 (Jason Eaton, Rodney So'oialo, Ma'a Nonu, Zac Guildford, Corey Jane, Scott Waldrom tries; Piri Weepu 3, William Ripia conversions), Cheetahs 10 (Jongi Nokwe try; Conrad Barnard conversion; Barnard penalty). HT, 21-10.