The Crusaders have held on for a hard-fought 24-21 win over the Hurricanes at Wellington on Saturday.
Both sides battled through an electric first half of seesaw action, before the contest evolved into a war of attrition in the second.
The hosts were given one final chance to reel the Crusaders in with a penalty after the fulltime siren, turning down a handy shot at goal in pursuit of the game-winning try.
But the gamble didn't pay off, as the Crusaders stifled the 5m lineout maul to force referee Brendon Pickerill to blow up a scrum to end the game, much to Hurricanes captain Ardie Savea's disgust.
The Crusaders drew first try-scoring blood in the ninth minute, as David Havili's slick offload in the tackle set Cullen Grace loose, with Will Jordan on hand in support to run it in the final 30m.
The Hurricanes responded instantly, with fullback Josh Moorby scything through the Crusaders' defensive line and finding flanker Du'Plessis Kirifi with a wide ball to score and reclaim the lead.
After some lengthy passages of play, the Crusaders were the next to strike, turning down a shot at goal and finding space off the back of a hard-charging run by Brayden Ennor for Quinten Strange to saunter over in the corner.
Again, the Hurricanes were swift with their reply, as Ardie Savea came with inches of the line, before Josh Moorby reached out to score in the tackle to cash in on the overlap.
Just minutes later. Mo'unga hit George Bridge in stride with a pinpoint skip pass for the wing to finish NRL-style in the corner.
Barrett converted a late penalty to send the Hurricanes into the sheds with an 18-17 advantage.
He added another to open the second half, before a five-metre lineout from a penalty set a platform for Ethan Blackadder's powerful run, scoring next to the posts under the attention of three tacklers.
The Crusaders spent the next 35 minutes defeding their narrow lead, before repelling the final lineout drive to seal victory.
The Hurricanes have a chance to get back in the winning column in just three day's time at home against Moana Pasifika, while the Crusaders square off with the Blues at Christchurch on Friday.
Crusaders 24 (Will Jordan try 8min, Quinten Strange try 26min, George Bridge try 35min, Ethan Blackker try 46min; Richie Mo’unga 2 con), Hurricanes 21 (Du Plessis Kirifi try 12min, Josh Moorby try 30min; Jordie Barrett 3 pen, con). HT: 17-18.
