The Canterbury Crusaders all but assured themselves a home Super 14 semifinal by beating the Sharks 18-10 in atrocious conditions in Christchurch on Friday. Replacement prop Wyatt Crockett scored a late try to seal the win and a last-four place with the New Zealanders requiring just one point from two games to ensure home advantage. The Crusaders lead the table on 47 points, 15 clear of the third-placed Chiefs, who play Western Force on Saturday. The Sharks hold a slim advantage in the fourth and final semifinal slot. Crockett kicked ahead twice after the Sharks continually fumbled the ball inside their own 22 area before beating number eight Ryan Kankowski for the only second half score. Canterbury flyhalf Stephen Brett slotted two penalties and converted Greg Somerville's first-half try for the hosts, while Kankowski scored a try and scumhalf Rory Kockott slotted the conversion and added a penalty for the Sharks. The Crusaders dominated the first 20 minutes with Brett opening the scoring with an early penalty and then converting Somerville's try to give the home side a 10-0 lead. The Sharks, however, refused to buckle and Kankowski scored a brilliant individual try, picking the ball up off the back of the scrum and swatting away three Crusaders' defenders, including McCaw, and sprinting 25 meters to the line. Kockott converted to bring the score to 10-7 before Brett and the Sharks scrumhalf traded penalties close to halftime with McCaw also receiving a yellow card for infringing at the ruck. The conditions worsened in the second half before Crockett sealed the victory five minutes from time. Blues state win The Auckland Blues ended a run of three successive Super 14 defeats with a 35-22 victory over the Queensland Reds in Brisbane on Friday. Replacement lock Kurtis Haiu scored a late try to halt the home side's second half resurgence and keep the sixth-placed side's semi-final chances alive. The Reds remain 10th. Scrumhalf Taniela Moa added a bonus-point try in the final minutes for the competition's early frontrunners, who recovered following 15 unanswered second period points from the Reds. Jerome Kaino and Isa Nacewa scored first half tries for the the New Zealanders, while fullback Nick Evans slotted three conversions and three penalties. Flanker David Croft, lock Van Humphries and winger Peter Hynes went over for the Reds with fullback Clinton Schifcofske slotting two conversions and a penalty.
