The Chiefs won their fourth Super 14 rugby match in a row and brought an end to the Crusaders' run of eight straight victories this season with their 18-5 victory in Hamilton tonight.
The Chiefs have now scored 20 tries in posting successive wins over the Bulls, Highlanders, Brumbies and Crusaders to emerge as firm contenders for the playoffs.
Despite the result, the Crusaders retain the championship lead as they have a seven-point buffer over the second-placed Sharks while the Chiefs move into provisional third on the table.
The Crusaders were ambushed by a cohesive Chiefs side who scored two unanswered tries in the first half, one of them while they were a man short after lock Toby Lynn was sin-binned for persistent offending.
Crusaders five-eighth Stephen Brett's return to the starting line-up after a lengthy injury break smacked of rustiness, his kick to start the game going straight into touch.
The Chiefs immediately claimed the high ground when from the resultant scrum, they swept upfield and won a penalty at a ruck in front of the posts after lock Ali Williams was pulled up for infringing.
First five-eighth Stephen Donald, who had a brilliant game, made no mistake kicking the first-minute penalty.
The Chiefs, taking a leaf out of the Crusaders manual, recycled the ball efficiently and confidently retained possession -- a pattern they retained throughout the game.
Sweeping back into attack, the forwards, with Liam Messam, Tanerau Latimer and Sione Lauaki outstanding, delivered good ball for Donald to light up the backline, giving dangerous wing Sitiveni Sivivatu the simplest of jobs to cross for the first try.
The Crusaders were content to use the width of the field to attack but were unable to break through a sound Chiefs defence which held up even after Lynn was sin binned in the 26th minute.
The Chiefs were even able to increase their score when Donald, chipping and retrieving, set prop Simms Davison up for an easy gallop to the tryline.
Donald closed the half out with a penalty to give the Chiefs a handy 18-0 lead at halftime.
The Crusaders were unable to tidy their game up in the second half and although there was a glimmer of hope when they scored a deserved try in the 47th minute through halfback Andy Ellis.
Minutes later it seemed that they had cracked the Chiefs defence once again after fine build-up by Scott Hamilton, Corey Flynn and Sean Maitland, but substitute Nasi Manu lost the ball forward as he tried to slam the ball down for a try.
For once, there was nothing left in the Crusaders' bag of tricks and the Chiefs were able to lock them out.
Crusaders centre Casey Laulala was stretchered off wearing a neck brace after he was involved a head clash with Dwayne Sweeney late in the game.
liam messam tackled my mose tuieli
Try time: Is it a winger? Is it a centre? No it's a prop!
The Chiefs have now scored 20 tries in posting successive wins over the Bulls, Highlanders, Brumbies and Crusaders to emerge as firm contenders for the playoffs.
Despite the result, the Crusaders retain the championship lead as they have a seven-point buffer over the second-placed Sharks while the Chiefs move into provisional third on the table.
The Crusaders were ambushed by a cohesive Chiefs side who scored two unanswered tries in the first half, one of them while they were a man short after lock Toby Lynn was sin-binned for persistent offending.
Crusaders five-eighth Stephen Brett's return to the starting line-up after a lengthy injury break smacked of rustiness, his kick to start the game going straight into touch.
The Chiefs immediately claimed the high ground when from the resultant scrum, they swept upfield and won a penalty at a ruck in front of the posts after lock Ali Williams was pulled up for infringing.
First five-eighth Stephen Donald, who had a brilliant game, made no mistake kicking the first-minute penalty.
The Chiefs, taking a leaf out of the Crusaders manual, recycled the ball efficiently and confidently retained possession -- a pattern they retained throughout the game.
Sweeping back into attack, the forwards, with Liam Messam, Tanerau Latimer and Sione Lauaki outstanding, delivered good ball for Donald to light up the backline, giving dangerous wing Sitiveni Sivivatu the simplest of jobs to cross for the first try.
The Crusaders were content to use the width of the field to attack but were unable to break through a sound Chiefs defence which held up even after Lynn was sin binned in the 26th minute.
The Chiefs were even able to increase their score when Donald, chipping and retrieving, set prop Simms Davison up for an easy gallop to the tryline.
Donald closed the half out with a penalty to give the Chiefs a handy 18-0 lead at halftime.
The Crusaders were unable to tidy their game up in the second half and although there was a glimmer of hope when they scored a deserved try in the 47th minute through halfback Andy Ellis.
Minutes later it seemed that they had cracked the Chiefs defence once again after fine build-up by Scott Hamilton, Corey Flynn and Sean Maitland, but substitute Nasi Manu lost the ball forward as he tried to slam the ball down for a try.
For once, there was nothing left in the Crusaders' bag of tricks and the Chiefs were able to lock them out.
Crusaders centre Casey Laulala was stretchered off wearing a neck brace after he was involved a head clash with Dwayne Sweeney late in the game.
liam messam tackled my mose tuieli
Try time: Is it a winger? Is it a centre? No it's a prop!
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