Crusaders Go Top, Mataele Scores 2
Fijian flyer Manasa Mataele scored two tries for Crusaders as they defeated the Brumbies 21-8 in Canberra on Saturday night.
Vanuavatu, Lau native Mataele, 21, scored his first try directly off a scrum close to the line, and five minutes later bagged his second when a wide pass by Matt Todd put him in space.
The former Marist Brothers High School student has maternal links to Yasawa-i-rara, Yasawa.
The eight-time champions laid most of the foundations for their victory during the first half and although the Brumbies improved during the second period, the men from Christchurch kept them at bay.
And despite playing with 13 men midway through the second half – after Scott Barrett and Ryan Crotty were yellow carded – the Crusaders outscored their hosts three tries to one.
The result is significant as it means New Zealand sides have now won 36 consecutive matches against their counterparts from Australia with the last Australian victory registered in Round 14 of 2016 when the Waratahs beat the Chiefs.
The victory moves the Crusaders into top spot on the New Zealand Conference table and the overall standings while the Brumbies are in fourth place in the Australian Conference.
The Brumbies made the brighter start and took the lead in the second minute when Henry Speight ran onto a pass from Joe Powell, just outside the Crusaders’ 22, before crossing for the opening try.
That score did not deter the defending champions who struck back in style in the 17th minute when Seta Tamanivalu joined the line at pace before delivering a brilliant pass out of the back of his hand to Tim Bateman, who went over for their opening try.
The scorers:For Brumbies:
Try: Speight Pen: Hawera, Yellow Card: Peni
For Crusaders: Tries: Bateman, Mataele 2
Cons: Delany 3, Yellow Cards: Barrett, Crotty.
Edited by Osea Bola
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