Crusaders' first-half dominance secures Super Rugby Pacific final over Blues

The Crusaders have been crowned the inaugural Super Rugby Pacific champions after a 21-7 win over the Blues in the final played in Auckland.

The Crusaders dominated by the first half, having far more possession than the home side.

After Richie Mo'unga put them into a 6-0 lead thank to a drop goal and a penalty, they finally breached the Blues' defence in the 39th minute as Bryn Hall scored the match's first try.

Mo'unga added the conversion as the Crusaders led 13-0 at the break.

The Crusaders flyhalf added another penalty as the lead stretched out to 16-0 before the Blues finally were on the scoreboard thanks to an opportunistic converted try by scrumhalf Finlay Christie.

That made the score 16-7 with a quarter of the match to play.

The Crusaders put the match beyond doubt with five minutes to go, however, when Sevu Reece pounced on a kick-ahead from Pablo Matera that the Blues defence couldn't secure.

Mo'unga couldn't land the difficult conversion, but at 21-7, the Crusaders had an unassailable lead and yet another trophy.

Scorers

Blues

Tries: Finlay Christie

Conversion: Stephen Perofeta  

Crusaders

Tries: Brynn Hall, Sevu Reece

Conversion: Richie Mo'unga

Penalties: Richie Mo'unga (2)

Drop goal: Richie Mo'unga

Blues

15 Stephen Perofeta, 14 Mark Telea, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, 11 AJ Lam, 10 Beauden Barrett (captain), 9 Finlay Christie, 8 Hoskins Sotutu, 7 Adrian Choat, 6 Akira Ioane, 5 Tom Robinson, 4 Josh Goodhue, 3 Nepo Laulala, 2 Kurt Eklund, 1 Alex Hodgman

Substitutes: 16 Soane Vikena, 17 Karl Tu’inukuafe, 18 Ofa Tuungafasi, 19 Luke Romano, 20 Dalton Papalii/James Tucker, 21 Sam Nock, 22 Bryce Heem, 23 Zarn SullivanCrusaders

15 Will Jordan, 14 Sevu Reece, 13 Jack Goodhue, 12 David Havili, 11 Leicester Fainga’anuku, 10