Crusaders put the Bulls to bed

– Centre Jack Goodhue (above) scored two tries as the Crusaders snapped a twogame losing streak with a 33-14 victory over the Bulls yesterday.

Lock Scott Barrett and hooker Codie Taylor got the Super Rugby champions off to a flying start before Goodhue crossed twice in 10 minutes either side of the break with winger George Bridge sealing the bonus point near the end.

Winger Travis Ismaiel scored a brilliant individual try for the visitors after half-an-hour and replacement back Marco van Staden grabbed another with 11 minutes remaining in the contest.

A bright start had seen the Bulls lay siege to the home try-line but the Crusaders gave them a lesson in making the most of their opportunities when Barrett went over after 16 minutes.

Taylor then doubled the lead from a carbon copy attacking lineout, peeling off the advancing maul to crash through the defence.

Three minutes later and Ismaiel finally gave the Bulls some reward for their endeavour when he came off his wing from a scrum, stepped off his left foot and outpaced the home defence to touch down.

The Crusaders restored the two-try cushion a minute before the break, though, when Goodhue again exposed the try-line defence of the Bulls by wrestling his way through a string of forwards.

His second came nine minutes after half-time through more orthodox means for a centre when he took the ball at pace off a nice line to cut through the midfield.

Van Staden charged straight up the middle of the park to briefly threaten the Crusaders’ bonus point at the death only for Bridge to crash through some more tacklers to make it safe. –