Crusaders U20s account for Hurricanes U20s at Upper Hutt (plus full scoring highlights)

Jacob Kennedy runs clear to score the first try of the day of the Hurricanes, with Oscar Ritchie (blue headgear) and Stanley Solomon in support in the foreground.

• By Steven White
• Photos by Andy McArthur

The visiting Crusaders U20s beat the Hurricanes U20s 57-22 in their one-off U20s match at NZCIS at Upper Hutt on Saturday afternoon.

The Crusaders U20s outscored their Hurricanes counterparts nine tries to four, after leading 38-10 at halftime playing with a moderate wind in the first half.

Watch try-scoring highlights below:

The Crusaders were as clinical as the Hurricanes were sloppy.

Their dominance started at scrum-time and continued through to the breakdowns and their ability to hold on to the ball with much more regularity than the Hurricanes. They made few mistakes in turning all this pressure into points, including two intercept tries.

It all started up front, the Crusaders pushing the Hurricanes off the first three of their own scrums, two of which were inside their 22, and leading to ex-Christchurch Boys’ High School No. 8 Finn McLeod scoring carbon-copy tries to put them up 14-0.

Their own scrum feed 40 metres out led to dynamite ex-St Thomas of Canterbury left wing Maletino Koladou crossing to put them up 21-0 after as many minutes.

The Hurricanes hit back with an ex-Wellington College one-two, fullback Stanley Solomon combining with right wing Jacob Kennedy for their first try to make it 21-5.

Left wing Koladou then set up a try in broken play to ex-Westlake Boys’ High School right wing Isaac Murray-Macgregor, who kicked their fourth conversion to put the red and blacks up 28-5.

A Solomon pass was intercepted on the far side by Crusaders second-five James Cameron, also out of Westlake BHS, leading to ex-Nelson College first-five Harry Inch to put in a cross-kick for left wing Koladou to collect and score his second and make it 33-5.

The Hurricanes were in danger of going down like the Titanic when Crusaders blindside flanker Xavier Treacy crossed in the opposite corner after a steady build up from the visitors.

Just before halftime, the Hurricanes replied with their second try, after a cross-kick by former Rathkeale College first-five Will Cole found ex-Wairarapa College hooker Conley Alexander ranging out wide to score the home team’s second try.

Both teams started utilising their enlarged benches from halftime, and the Crusaders, with several fresh faces on board, went close to extending their lead.

The Hurricanes then spent a good 10 minutes on attack but couldn’t break through.

Finally, the scoring resumed midway through the second half, with the visitors breaking through to score to a replacement player wearing #11 on his back.

That same player soon intercepted a pass made by Tawa left wing Jacob Denyer and sprinted away to score and bring up the Crusaders’ half century.

Denyer then scored a spectacular try direct from the kick off, but the Crusaders pulled away again with their final try of the day in the far corner after a 50/22 kick and attacking lineout.

The Hurricanes had the final say with a consolation score on fulltime to ex-Palmerston North Boys’ High School first five Liam O’Connor.

The Super Rugby U20s Competition starts in Taupo in a fortnight. The Hurricanes’ first opposition is the Fijian Drua.