Crusaders off to flyer

fired up the Highlanders who counterattacked superbly from a wayward Carter clearing kick and Hobbs burst through two tacklers to score his second try.

His conversion narrowed the gap to four points after 57 minutes.

It was the Crusaders under the pump as the game went into the final quarter, but an Adam Thomson off-side play relieved the pressure and another Highlanders infringement gave Carter a long penalty chance which he pushed well wide.

Tempers frayed after 65 minutes with the two captains spoken to and the Highlanders getting the penalty and another soon after which Hobbs slotted from the sideline to close the gap to a point.

Fruean pushed through a tackle before being pushed out five metres from the line and the Crusaders stayed on attack, Guildford finally breaking the Highanders defence after he and Sean Maitland had worked in tandem from halfway.

Carter added the wide conversion and the lead was back to eight points.

Hobbs just missed a penalty kick from a metre inside halfway after 76 minutes and the final say went to the Crusaders with Maitland beating three tackles to score out wide for the bonus-point try as the hooter sounded with Carter kicking the sideline conversion.

Crusaders 32
Tries: Ellis, Payne, Guildford, Maitland
Cons: Carter (3)
Pens: Carter (2)

Highlanders 17
Tries: Hobbs (2)
Cons: Hobbs (2)
Pen: Hobbs

HT: 10-0