For seventy minutes yesterday afternoon the Crusaders did all they could to lose to the Reds, who played out of their skins in their 15-11 loss to the Christchurch-based franchise.
Taking the field with a team of virtual unknowns, the Reds opened the game in vigorous fashion, their first minute try evidence that the coaching staff had done their homework.
It was a mistake-ridden affair from the homeside, who had plenty of opportunities, but let themselves down with handling errors and silly penalties. In contrast, the Queenslanders were playing like men possessed, with young openside flanker Liam Gill particularly prevalent.
Tom Taylor kept the Crusaders in the match, and unfortunately for the visitors, it was their enthusiasm and passion which perhaps cost them the game, with some over-exuberance at the break down gifting the Cantabrians easy points. Taylor contributed all fifteen of the home teams’ points, as they eventually kicked in to gear to shut the visitors out of the final ten minutes.
All in all, a match which will encourage the Red’s, and leave the Crusaders’ coaching staff bemoaning a lack of accuracy and consistency.