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Crusaders edge Highlanders in pre-season thriller

PRE-SEASON REPORT: The Crusaders edged the Highlanders 43-38 in a thrilling Super Rugby pre-season encounter in Southbridge on Friday.

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Both teams were missing a number of All Blacks for the match, but that didn’t stop both teams turning on the style.

The Crusaders went into the half-time break leading 14-7 after tries from Tim Batemen and Jordan Taufua. The Highlanders opened the scoring with a try from Liam Coltman.

The second half was very much a see-saw affair with both teams taking the lead at various stages.

The Highlanders were leading 38-31 with minutes left on the clock and it looked like they were going to have bragging rights over their South Island rivals.

However, the Crusaders staged a light fightback with Mitchell Dunshea crashing over with three minutes left on the clock.

Will Jordan completed then broke the Highlanders fans’ hearts when he scored in the last minute.

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The match was the last pre-season hit-out for both teams ahead of this year’s Super Rugby tournament.

The Highlanders open their campaign with a tough assignment against the Chiefs in Hamilton on Friday, February 15.

The Crusaders also have a tricky first assignment against the Blues in Auckland on Saturday, February 16.

The scorers:

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For Crusaders:
Tries: Sanders 2, Bateman, Taufua, Mataele, Dunshea, Jordan
Cons: Hunt 2, Havili, Burke

For Highlanders:
Tries: Tomkinson 2, Coltman, Lentjes, Fakatava, McKay
Cons: Ioane 3, Gatland

Teams:

Crusaders: 15 David Havili, 14 Manasa Mataele, 13 Braydon Ennor, 12 Tim Bateman, 11 George Bridge, 10 Mitchell Hunt, 9 Mitchell Drummond, 8 Whetukamokamo Douglas (captain), 7 Billy Harmon, 6 Jordan Taufua, 5 Quinten Strange, 4 Luke Romano, 3 Michael Alaalatoa, 2 Ben Funnell, 1 Tim Perry.
Replacements – from: Harry Allan, Andrew Makalio, George Bower, Mitchell Dunshea, Ethan Blackadder, Tom Sanders, Bryn Hall, Ereatara Enari, Brett Cameron, Leicester Faingaanuku, Ngane Punivai, Will Jordan.

Highlanders: 15 Matt Faddes, 14 Josh McKay, 13 Rob Thompson, 12 Sio Tomkinson, 11 Tevita Li, 10 Josh Ioane, 9 Kayne Hammington, 8 Luke Whitelock (captain), 7 James Lentjes, 6 Marino Mikaele Tu’u, 5 Josh Dickson, 4 Pari Pari Parkinson, 3 Tyrel Lomax, 2 Liam Coltman, 1 Ayden Johnstone.
Replacements: 16 Ray Niuia, 17 Sef Fa’agase, 18 Josh Iosefa-Scott, 19 Maanaki Selby-Rickett, 20 Dillon Hunt, 21 Folau Fakatava, 22 Bryn Gatland, 23 Teihorangi Walden, 24 Jack Whetton.

Referee: Ben O’Keeffe
Assistant referees: Jamie Nutbrown, James Munro

Photo: @crusadersrugby

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