Losses for Crusaders and Blues

Defending Rebel Sport Super 14 champions, the Crusaders, were beaten 12-17 by the Waratahs in their pre-season match in Sydney on Thursday.

The match was the traditional pre-season game for the Rotomahana Challenge Trophy and was decided by a piece of brilliance from 18-year-old first five-eighths Kurtley Beale.

He sliced through the Crusaders' defence to create a try chance which was taken by halfback Josh Holmes for the winning try.

The game lacked continuity but the Crusaders looked to have done enough to win.

They scored first through a try to flanker Kieran Read, but that man with the ability to make something from nothing, wing Peter Hewat charged down an attempted clearance kick and Sam Norton-Knight scored an easy try.

Halfback Andrew Ellis gave the Crusaders the lead halfway through the second spell but Holmes had the final say.

Chiefs halfback Brendon Leonard stole a pre-season victory for his side to give it a 24-21 win over the Blues in Rotorua on Thursday.

Both teams scored three tries apiece, but after All Blacks wing Doug Howlett scored in the corner, with Isakela Nacewa adding the conversion for a 21-17 lead it seemed the Blues had done enough.

However, the Chiefs hammered the Blues defence in the final stages to take the win.

Earlier, Chiefs fullback Sosene Anesi and No.8 Sione Lauaki scored tries.

Loose forward Angus Macdonald scored the first try for the Blues with Justin Collins touching down just after half-time.

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