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Final score: Canterbury Crusaders 31-13 ACT Brumbies

79 mins: Canterbury finish with a flourish as Ralph intercepts Huxley's pass on his own 22 and sprints 80 metres for his second try. Mehrtens converts to take the Crusaders past 30 points in every match this season.
Crusaders 31-13 Brumbies

76 mins: The Crusaders effectively seal victory as they move the ball swiftly wide deep in ACT territory and Mauger's cut-out pass releases Caleb Ralph to score in the left corner. Mehrtens converts from the touchline.
Crusaders 24-13 Brumbies

74 mins: Canterbury hit back immediately as Mehrtens fires home a sweetly-struck drop goal.
Crusaders 17-13 Brumbies

72 mins: Justin Marshall's pass to Vunibaka is intercepted by Walker 30 metres out, who sprints home to bring the Brumbies right back into the game. Walker converts to bring ACT to within a point.
Crusaders 14-13 Brumbies

69 mins: The Crusaders concede another penalty that Walker kicks to touch, but Jack steals the line-out to ease the pressure.

67 mins: Ryan, a replacement himself, limps off with an ankle injury, to be replaced by lock David Pusey.

65 mins: ACT decline a shot at goal after Robinson is penalised in favour of a line-out. The Crusaders infringe again in front of their own posts, and Walker converts the penalty.
Crusaders 14-6 Brumbies

62 mins: The Brumbies win a turnover on their own 22 and centre Stirling Mortlock scoots 50 metres up the right touchline into Canterbury territory.

59 mins: ACT finally start to exert some pressure through 16 phases launched at the Crusaders line, but the home side hold firm with superb defence.

54 mins: A half-break from elusive Crusaders centre Mark Robinson forces the Brumbies to stray offside, and this time Mehrtens dispenses punishment with his third penalty.
Crusaders 14-3 Brumbies

50 mins: The Crusaders send on prop David Hewett for Feek, while the Brumbies replace Scott Fava at No 8 with Peter Ryan.

47 mins: The Crusaders counter attack through Hammett but a clearing kick from Walker, then a line-out won against the throw, eases the pressure on ACT.

46 mins: The Brumbies take play through eight phases without making any headway before turning over the ball.

43 mins: ACT lock Justin Harrison is penalised for preventing release of Crusaders ball, but Mehrtens is unable to capitalise, dragging his 35-metre penalty wide.

HT: Canterbury Crusaders 11-3 ACT Brumbies

40 mins: Mehrtens extends Canterbury's lead via a penalty with the last kick of the half.
Crusaders 11-3 Brumbies

39 mins: Jack's charge launches a sweeping Crusaders move, but George Gregan's cover tackle prevents Vunibaka from grabbing his second try.

36 mins: Brumbies replacement fly-half Julian Huxley, on for Larkham, is flattened by a crunching tackle from Jack.

35 mins: Mehrtens keeps the Brumbies pegged back with a superb drilled line kick deep into ACT territory.

30 mins: Larkham troops off in obvious discomfort, having damaged elbow ligaments.

29 mins: With Larkham still down, the Crusaders take the lead with a superb try. Mauger is twice involved, and Robertson and captain Reuben Thorne combine to send Vunbika sprinting away to the right corner. Mehrtens is unable to convert in the windy conditions.
Crusaders 8-3 Brumbies

28 mins: Larkham requires lengthy treatment to his arm after being tackled by Robertson.

25 mins: Superb driving play from the Crusaders up the middle creates space for Vunibaka down the right. The Brumbies are penalised as the move is switched inside and Mehrtens guides his kick between the posts to level the scores.
Crusaders 3-3 Brumbies

21 mins: Watson dishes out a second lecture for illegal use of the boot, this time to Canterbury hooker Mark Hammett.

18 mins: ACT fly-half Stephen Larkham's kick ahead finds the Crusaders back-line offside, and Andrew Walker slots home the first points of the final with a penalty from 50 metres.
Crusaders 0-3 Brumbies

15 mins: Mehrtens gets the first penalty chance of the match, but drags his kick wide from 40 metres.

12 mins: Mauger's break puts the Crusaders on the offensive again, but the move breaks down when No 8 Scott Robertson is unable to hold Mehrtens' pass.

9 mins: A forward pass from Pat Howard on his own 22 puts ACT under pressure, but Canterbury fail to profit from the resulting scrum as Aaron Mauger drops the ball inches from the line.

8 mins: Crusaders full-back Leon MacDonald makes a vital intercept with the boot, with the Brumbies poised to take advantage of a two-man overlap.

5 mins: Referee Andre Watson lectures Crusaders lock Chris Jack for illegal rucking as the home side threaten to break through from flanker Richie McCaw's charge.

2 mins: Crusaders fly-half Andrew Mehrtens makes a clean break before kicking ahead for Marika Vunibaka to chase. But ACT's Mark Bartholomeusz recovers to dive on the loose ball behind his own line.

1 min: ACT full-back Andrew Walker kicks off in icey cold, damp conditions in Christchurch.

Teams:

Canterbury Crusaders: Leon MacDonald; Marika Vunibaka, Mark Robinson, Aaron Mauger, Caleb Ralph; Andrew Mehrtens, Justin Marshall; Scott Robertson, Richard McCaw, Reuben Thorne (captain), Chris Jack, Norm Maxwell; Greg Somerville, Mark Hammett, Greg Feek.

ACT Brumbies: Mark Bartholomeusz; Graeme Bond, Stirling Mortlock, Pat Howard, Andrew Walker; Stephen Larkham, George Gregan (captain); Scott Fava, George Smith, Owen Finegan, Dan Vickerman, Justin Harrison; Ben Darwin, Jeremy Paul, Bill Young.

Referee: A Watson (South Africa)