The Crusaders continued their impressive start to the season with a comprehensive 55-7 victory over the Cheetahs at the AMI Stadium base in Christchurch on Saturday.
The six-time champions ran in five tries before half-time, and nine in total, to win another one-sided contest having also posted sizeable wins over the Brumbies and the Bulls in their first two Super 14 matches.
Veteran three-quarters Scott Hamilton and Casey Laulala scored twice each for Robbie Deans’ side in the walkover.
The Crusaders ran up in excess of 50 points for the second time against the third year franchise, while the bonus point was wrapped up by the 26th minute of the rout.
Laulala had a try disallowed after just four minutes, but the scores soon arrived as the New Zealanders did not relent.
Youngster Sean Maitland went over before Laulala scored for real, with each of the opening five-pointers followed by a conversion.
Daniel Carter was the next player to cross the line and although the New Zealand fly-half failed to convert his own try, he did add the extras when Leon MacDonald tallied.
There was still time for Scott Hamilton to join the party, with Carter kicking another conversion to round out a 33-0 lead at half-time.
Hamilton extended the lead seven minutes after the break but, almost instantly, Jongi Nokwe broke the visitors’ duck, displaying a turn of pace to score after an interception.
Crusaders hooker Ti’I Paulo then popped up wide on the left to finish off a move for his first Super 14 points, with Caleb Ralph and Laulala adding further scores to wrap up an emphatic victory.
