The Crusaders have held on to record a scrappy 19-11 Super Rugby win over the Blues in Christchurch.
The hosts started the better of the two sides, going close a couple of times in the opening five minutes.
Richie Mo'unga got the defending champions on the board with an eighth-minute penalty and a Harry Plummer mistake saw Mo'unga double the lead.
Mo'unga was against involved six minutes later, when his kick was gathered by Ryan Crotty, who calmly passed to Bryn Hall for the opening try.
Plummer kicked a penalty for the visitors' only first-half points.
The home side dominated at the breakdown and the scrum in the next 20 minutes, but couldn't convert field position into points, as the sides went into the sheds at 13-3.
The Crusaders kept the possession dominance in the second half, but struggled to turn it into points. On the other hand, the Blues had little ball and weren't able to do much with the possession they had.
Melani Nanai showed glimpses going forward for the visitors, but errors and great Crusaders defence shut him out.
Plummer closed the gap to seven points with a 57th-minute penalty, but it was nullified just one minute later, as Mo'unga's boot took the score out to 16-6.
Rieko Ioane scored the second try of the match, after some great passing from TJ Faiane and Nanai to set the winger up, and take the score to 16-11.
The Blues pressed for the win with five minutes to go, but were unable to get any go-ahead ball, instead giving away a penalty - Mo'unga slotted home the shot to take the lead out to eight.
The win was gutsy one for the hosts, taking their lead to 13 points at the top of the New Zealand conference, all-but sealing the top spot and home advantage for the playoffs.
Newshub.
