The Crusaders despite being without all their All Black stars have beaten Bristrol Bears 31-14 at the Ashton Gate Stadium.
Macca Springer and Jack Gray scored two tries each for the Crusaders.
Post Scott Roberston, new coach Rob Penney, who had none of his top All Blacks available, would have been delighted with the manner in which his young side fought back in difficult conditions at Ashton Gate.
They were tied 7-all at half time.
Chay Fihaki’s wonderful pinpoint kick for Springer’s second try gave the Crusaders the lead for the first time in the second half and Bristol were soon a player light because of Joe Batley’s yellow card.
The touring side never looked back, defeating Pat Lam’s team with ruthless attacks and an efficient scrum and lineout that bettered the Bears.
Despite Bristol’s breakaway try for Kieran Marmion, the Crusaders sealed the victory with midfielder Gray’s late double, bouncing back from last weekend’s 21-19 defeat to Munster in Ireland.
Crusaders finished with a flourish, too, as halfback Noah Hotham dashed away to score their fifth try from another excellent break, silencing the home crowd.
This was no comfortable success for Penney’s troops, who seemed to survive unscathed after Welsh fullback Leigh Halfpenny suffered a serious chest injury against Munster.
The wet conditions worsened throughout a torrid opening 40 and the Crusaders struggled to escape their half.
Bristol, led by lively first five-eighth AJ MacGinty, were kicking regularly to gain a territorial advantage.
Bears winger Noah Heward’s dancing feet ignited some attacks, creating openings for his team-mates, but the home side’s tactics were clear on the sodden surface.
Even lock Batley attempted a kick to turn the Crusaders around.
When the Kiwi team’s passes stuck, they built phases well but didn’t advance into Bristol’s half until hooker George Bell’s powerful break in the 22nd minute.
The Bears, for all their dominance and the Crusaders’ errors, could only break the deadlock via a rolling maul try for hooker Fred Davies.
The Crusaders managed to hit back on the stroke of half-time when Springer finished in the left corner after a prolonged assault inside Bristol’s 22, with Reihana’s touchline conversion levelling the scores.
The match opened up in the second half when each team made multiple changes.
The Crusaders now take on Highlanders next Friday at 3pm in their last pre-season match.
They take on the Chiefs on 23rd February at 6.05pm in their first match of the Super Rugby Pacific season.
Source: stuff.co.nz
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