Vodacom Super 14
Crusaders edge Stormers
2009-03-28 10:23
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The Crusaders' Adam Whitelock
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Christchurch - Stormers captain Jean de Villiers admitted that his side made too many mistakes in their Super 14 defeat to the Crusaders on Saturday. The Crusaders won 11—7.
De Villiers said afterwards: “We just couldn't seem to get out of our own half and with the new laws territory is the name of the game, but we could not get that right.
"You can't play rugby in your own half for 80 minutes."
The Crusaders, who lost three successive matches then threw away a 14-point lead to draw 23-23 with Western Force, got the defence of their title back on track last week with a 17-13 victory over New South Wales Waratahs in Sydney.
They are now in fifth place on 18 points though they could be overtaken by the the Chiefs (17) and the Hurricanes (15), who both play later.
Winger Adam Whitelock scored a well-worked try just before half-time, while flyhalf Stephen Brett slotted a penalty in each half as the home side battled back from an early 7-0 deficit.
'Scrappy win'
Stormers flanker Luke Watson scored a try inside the first 11 minutes after beating three defenders, which was converted by flyhalf Willem de Waal, but the visitors were unable to add to their score in a further 70 minutes of uninspiring rugby.
The Crusaders dominated territory and possession but too often they dropped the ball, made poor passes or kicked aimlessly when it would have been better to retain possession.
The match was also characterised by numerous handling errors and turnovers from both sides and much of the second half was played between the 22m areas with neither team able to convert opportunities into points when on attack.
Crusaders captain Kieran Read said afterwards: “They came out really firing and we just had to hold on and it was a scrappy win, but we'll take it.”