100 and Out: Crusaders celebrate Apollo Projects farewell with Drua win

The Crusaders have ended their tenure at Apollo Projects Stadium in style with a 69-26 win over the Fijian Drua.

It was a special and emotional occasion as they prepared to head to One NZ Stadium, bringing up 100 wins at the ground where they have won four titles.

The hosts were motivated to send it off in style as they blew away the Drua, with hooker Codie Taylor a fitting game-breaker as the club legend crossed for four in his 150th game for the club.

The first two came from the rolling maul, with Taylor capping off the special night early on in the second half.

The onslaught started in the third minute when Chay Fihaki broke the line from an inside ball, with Will Jordan throwing the looping ball to winger Sevu Reece.

Leicester Fainga’anuku crossed shortly afterwards, with Taylor’s quick fire double pitting them in a race with the clock.

Reece made it a double after latching onto Fainga’anuku’s kick, making it 31-0 after just 23 minutes.

Joseva Tamani stemmed the bleeding for the visitors but Fihaki was quick to respond.

A yellow card to Johnny Lee was the only dour note to the first half for the Crusaders, allowing Elia Canakaivata to reduce the lead to 38-12 at the break.

However, it was a special night for Taylor and the Crusaders, who made it three 90 seconds into the second half, completing his haul and the half century right before the 50 minute mark.

The Drua kept adding to the scoreboard, with Canakaivata’s second followed by former Crusader Manasa Matabele getting a fitting five-pointer on his return home.

In the end, it was all Crusaders as Corey Kellow and Fihaki wrapped up the win with 20 minutes to go.

The Crusaders will open their new stadium as part of Super Round, facing the NSW Waratahs on April 24.

Before this, they will embark on a two-week Australian trip to face the Queensland Reds and Western Force.

Crusaders 69 (Tries: Taylor 4, Reece 2, Fihaki 2, Fainga’anuku, Calder, Kellow; Cons: Kemara 7) def Fijian Drua 26 (Tries: Canakaivata 2, Matabele, Tamani; Cons: Armstrong Ravula 3)

Teams:

Crusaders: 15 Will Jordan (captain), 14 Chay Fihaki, 13 Leicester Fainga’anuku, 12 Dallas McLeod, 11 Sevu Reece, 10 Taha Kemara, 9 Louie Chapman, 8 Christian Lio-Willie, 7 Johnny Lee, 6 Corey Kellow, 5 Jamie Hannah, 4 Antonio Shalfoon, 3 Fletcher Newell, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 George Bower.
Replacements: 16 George Bell, 17 Jack Sexton, 18 Seb Calder, 19 Tahlor Cahill, 20 Dom Gardiner, 21 Mitch Drummond, 22 Rivez Reihana, 23 Braydon Ennor.

Fijian Drua: 15 Iliasia Droasese, 14 Joji Nasova, 13 Virimi Vakatawa, 12 Iosefo Namoce, 11 Manasa Mataele, 10 Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula, 9 Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, 8 Elia Canakaivata, 7 Kitione Salawa, 6 Etonia Waqa, 5 Isoa Nasilasila (captain), 4 Joseva Tamani, 3 Mesake Doge, 2 Zuriel Togiatama, 1 Haereiti Hetet.
Replacements: 16 Sairusi Ravudi, 17 Emosi Tuqiri, 18 Peni Ravai, 19 Mesake Vocevoce, 20 Isoa Tuwai, 21 Phillip Baselala, 22 Kemu Valetini, 23 Isikeli Rabitu.

Referee: Paul Williams
Assistant referees: Angus Mabey, Mike Winter
TMO: Aaron Paterson