The game’s final act, a turnover on the Crusaders’ goalline by Matt Todd after some powerful work by the Lions, summed up their misfortune on the night.

Apart from the combined effort of the pack the contribution behind the scrum of the two halfbacks Bryn Hall and Mitch Drummond allowed man of the final, first five-eighths Richie Mo’unga, to add lustre to his reputation and to provide the tactical nuances to capitalise on even the slightest opportunities that were available.

Making an early lineout statement, the Crusaders upset the Lions, taking early turnover ball and then at the first opportunity rebutting the Lions’ lineout maul attempt.

Wing Ruan Combrinck, who provided an early attacking opportunity for his side with a probing run to the line, was only halted just short by desperate Crusaders’ defence. Attempting to be patient the Lions dropped the ball and the Crusaders cleared.

Then having their own first lineout opportunity close to the line, they produced a tight chance on the left flank where lock Franco Mostert prevented left wing George Bridge scoring in the corner.

The Lions tried the quick throw, even on their own goalline but were forced to kick to touch. From the lineout the Crusaders moved the ball with second five-eighths Ryan Crotty, who would be sin-binned for a cynical foul at a crucial stage in the second half, taking the ball up first.

Then, after the release No.8 Kieran Read quickly got the ball to blindside flanker Heiden Bedwell-Curtis whose thrust then allowed first five-eighths Richie Mo’unga to choose the long ball to wing Seta Tamanivalu who ploughed over in the 19th minute.

Having upset the Lions scrum, the Crusaders knocked over a 32nd minute penalty, the Crusaders had some reward for a bad mistake made by Lions first five-eighths Elton Jantjies.

From a long downfield kick by Mo’unga after a mark, the ball didn’t cross the goalline but Jantjies pressed the ball for a 22m dropout. However, referee Angus Gardner invoked the new law where the ball hadn’t cross the plane and was therefore a five-metre scrum for the Crusaders.

Then the Lions were in more trouble when Mo’unga soared high to take a tactical kick from Jantjies.

Coming to ground he slipped into space and put his speed to use to clear off downfield where centre Jack Goodhue took the pass and carried play towards the line where he was tackled. From the ruck, Hall, fired as long pass which was taken by fullback David Havili to cross in the tackle.

Scrum power, after consecutive periods on attack which saw 17 and 11 phases respectively turned back, and a try denied Jantjies in the 47th minute when he grounded the ball just short of the goalline, finally produced reward for the Lions. An earlier penalty advantage was played and the Lions called for a scrum, five metres out.

However, the home scrum won a penalty and were, momentarily, able to clear the ball from trouble.

A couple of old boys happy with that result, well done @crusadersrugby pic.twitter.com/4PNcFrrr9X— Dan Carter (@DanCarter) August 4, 2018

Opting to try something other than their lineout maul, the Lions worked to midfield where flanker Cyle Brink was stationed and able to break the defence and get into open space and run in a 58th minute try.

While Combrinck attempted a long shot to get the Lions within seven points, the kick failed and the Crusaders built from the 22m restart which was seized by a determined Tamanivalu.

Working the ball around the field at speed, the Crusaders got try scoring thrust from Mo’unga who took the ball to the line. Flanker Matt Todd made ground from the ruck, slipped a backhand pass to hooker Codie Taylor who chose to pass to Drummond who scored.

Crotty was sin-binned for his foul in the 66th minute and Marx was finally able to get his hands on the ball and for the second time in a movement and blasted his way through for a try.

Again the Crusaders responded immediately after the Lions interrupted a prospective move by putting the ball into touch. However, a quick throw allowed Bridge to make ground and link with replacement flanker Pete Samu, Drummond, replacement hooker Andrew Makalio, whose quick pass gave lock Scott Barrett a try under the posts.

Scorers: Crusaders 37 (Seta Tamanivalu, David Havili, Mitchell Drummond, Scott Barrett tries; Richie Mo’unga 4 con, 3 pen) Lions 18 (Cyle Brink, Malcolm Marx tries; Elton Jantjies con, 2 pen). HT: 20-6