REDS HANG ON TO WIN REBELS CLASH AS BLUES DOWN CRUSADERS IN AUCKLAND
0Reds hang on to win Rebels clash as Blues down Crusaders in Auckland
April 16. 2022 — 10.54am Save Log in. register or subscribe to save articles for later. Share Normal text sizeLarger text sizeVery large text size The Queensland Reds have won their third match in a row after beating the Melbourne Rebels 36 32 at AAMI Park in Melbourne on Friday night. In the other game Friday. Auckland based Blues hung on to beat the 14 man Crusaders 27 23 in a match between the top ranked New Zealand teams in Super Rugby Pacific on Friday. claiming their first win in Christchurch in 18 years. At one stage trailing by 14 points. the Rebels took the lead for the first time in the 63rd minute. edging ahead 25 24 after Matt Toomua converted a much deserved try from lock Matt Philip. But the Reds then scored twice within two minutes to take control of the match. Prop Taniela Tupou dived across the line in the 66th minute and Josh Flook ran onto a long ball after a break by Fraser McReight to score. The Crusaders lost lock and captain Scott Barrett to a red card in the 46th minute when they were trailing 17 10. With center David Havili already in the sin bin. they were down to 13 men and conceded a try which gave the Blues a 24 10 lead. Taniela Tupou of the Reds runs with the ball during the round nine Super Rugby Pacific match.Credit:Getty But the Crusaders rallied with two second half tries to winger Sevu Reece to cut the Blues’ lead to four points and ended the match on attack. A courageous try saving tackle by Blues captain Dalton Papalii and center Rieko Ioane on Crusaders lock Dominic Gardiner in the 78th minute allowed the Blues to clinch a long awaited win. Gardiner was put into space on the right flank and seemed to have the goal line at his mercy but Papalii. dazed from a previous tackle. got up and with Ioane’s help forced him into touch. “I don’t really have the words. For me it was quite emotional out there in those last 10 minutes.” Papalii said. “The boys just dug deep and I couldn’t have asked any more of my lads in coming down here and doing the job.” In the contest between All Blacks flyhaves. Beauden Barrett for the Blues had the upper hand early over Richie Mo’unga for the Crusaders and created two first half tries. Mark Telea from the Blues is tackled by Zach Gallagher. left. and George Bower from The Crusaders.Credit:Getty Fullback Will Jordan scored the first try of the match for the Crusaders from a dominant scrum. combining with Reece who put him into space. But Barrett broke the Crusaders’ inside defense in the 21st minute to make a try for scrumhalf Finlay Christie and sparked a short side movement which led to a try to Papali’i in the 31st. With a two man advantage. Blues hooker Kurt Eklund scored a try from a lineout drive in the 47th to put his team ahead by 14 points. ___ AP Thank you for reading the Herald. This article is complimentary. Register or log in now to read more articles and unlock extra benefits. No payment required Read more Continue with GoogleContinue with Apple or Email addressContinue By continuing. you agree to your personal information being collected under our privacy policy and accept our terms of use. Hide content
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