The Southern Kings kicked off their overseas tour against one of the toughest opponents in the competition. Kings playing their 4th Super Rugby game against 7 time Champions Crusaders in Christchurch, you don't get tougher then this.
Kings surprisingly scored the 1st points of the match through a Demetri Catrakilis penalty in the 2nd minute to take a 3 point lead. It did how ever not take Crusaders long to get points of their own after George Whitelock went in for his 1st try of the night, converted by Dan Carter 7 - 3.
Crusaders were rewarded a penalty 7 minutes later and Carter was happy to take the score to 10 - 3. Wyatt Crockett scored the second try and again converted by Carter took the score to 17 - 3. Thing were looking just a bit to easy for the Crusaders as the Kings struggled to fall back into position and defend the next onslaught.
Kings had an opportunity to bring the score within 9 but the penalty was missed from 40 meters out by Catrakilis. The Kings were led down by their defense in a high pace attacking game from Crusaders and their momentum was just too much for the Kings, gaining 5 to 10 meters at every tackle.
Kings managed to get into Crusaders 22 after a sneaky break by Catrakilis, he offloaded back inside and the Kings were 5 meters out but handling was a problem on the night and they lost the ball close to the line. They did however get a penalty for their troubles and Catrakilis brought the score to 17 - 6. Two more tries, Whitelock's second and the other from Willie Heinz took the score further away from the Kings, tries converted by Carter and Crusaders were scoring a point a minute, 31 - 6 after 30 minutes.
Close to the half time break the Kings were on attack and this time Whitehead found himself in the flyhalf position, he put a clever kick through deep inside the Crusaders 22, cover defense were pushed out and the Kings had a good attacking put in 5 meters out. The catch and drive resulted in a Wimpie van der Walt try just on the half time hooter, Catrakilis converted to end the 1st half on 31 - 13.
The second half started with a Carter penalty and a converted try by Matt Todd. Replacements Luke Whitelock and Tyler Bleyendaal added 7 more points stretching the score to 48 - 13.
Again the Kings looked promising on attack through a touchline run by Marcello Sampson but ended in disappointment after more poor handling by the Kings. Whitelock scored his 3rd try and pushed the Crusaders pass 50 points, his try was converted by Bleyendaal.
Crusaders were back inside the Kings 22 and looked like they could possibly score another try, but poor handling from their side and some good interplay by the Kings saw George Whitehead scoring one under the Crusaders post. He converted his own try just on full time to bring the score to 55 - 20.
The Kings could feel let down by their defense and poor handling at times. The score does not reflect a true story as Crusaders made some changes in the second half, but again the Kings never gave up and tried their utmost till the end.
The Kings are still learning and growing as a team and they were taught a rugby lesson by one of the best in the competition. The Kings can still hold their head high because on a night were their defense and hands let them down their fighting spirit carried on to the end.
Crusaders:
Tries: G Whitelock 3, Crockett, Heinz, Todd, L Whitelock
Cons: Carter 5, Bleyendaal 2
Pens: Carter 2
Southern Kings:
Tries: Van der Walt, Whitehead
Cons: Catrakilis, Whitehead
Pens: Catrakilis 2
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