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Defending champs too good for Reds

The defending champions Canterbury Crusaders returned to familiar form yesterday, beating the Queensland Reds 33-22 in a Super 14 rugby match.

After a first-round loss to the Auckland Blues, flyhalf Steve Brett scored a try and kicked four conversions to lift the Crusaders to victory.

In another early match yesterday, Auckland flyhalf Isa Nacewa scored a try and kicked two conversions and a penalty to lead the Blues to a 17-15 win over the ACT Brumbies at Canberra.

At half-time, the Brumbies led 9-7 on Julien Huxley's three penalties in five attempts, including one from 48m. Nacewa scored the only try of the first half in the eighth minute.

The match was played in steady rain and lightning throughout the first half.

Later in South Africa, the Bulls hosted the Cheetahs at Pretoria and the Lions played New Zealand side Otago at Johannesburg.

Playing as a stand-in for Daniel Carter, Brett scored the first of the Crusaders' five tries and had a hand in at least three others.

"We're a very proud team. Last week's loss dealt us a bit of a blow which dented our pride but we worked hard this week for a bit of a lift," Crusaders captain Corey Flynn said.

The Reds -- first-round winners over the Wellington Hurricanes -- led 22-21 entering the last quarter and seemed poised for an upset win. But the Crusaders scored two late tries to grab a four-try bonus point and deny Queensland a point for a loss by fewer than seven points.

Clinton Schifcofske kicked four penalties from six attempts to keep the Reds in the match but the visitors eventually buckled under the Crusaders' late pressure.

"One of the big disappointments in life is could have been and this match was definitely a could have been," said Reds captain John Rowe.

"We put ourselves in the game and with 20 minutes to go we were definitely in with a chance but all credit to the Crusaders, they were too strong in the end," he said.

Schifcofske's fourth penalty gave Queensland a 22-21 lead but late tries by Scott Hamilton and Brent Ward put the Crusaders in front and extinguished the Reds' hope of a consolation bonus point.
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