Crusaders battle to 19-14 win over Sharks in Super Rugby
Last Updated: 29/03/16 9:32am
Kieran Read scored a late try as the Crusaders edged past the Sharks 19-14 in Natal.
With eight minutes remaining, the Durban-based side led by two points until Read forced himself over the line near to the posts, enabling the visitors to reclaim the lead at King's Park.
The New Zealand franchise were first on the scoreboard when David Havili collected Nemani Nadolo's pass - following an offload - to dive over the line, next to the upright, in the 25th minute, Richie Mo'unga adding the extras.
However, the Sharks levelled matters with a converted try of their own 11 minutes later when Lwazi Mvovo grabbed the first of his two intercept tries, the winger doing just enough to evade Johnny McNicholl's last-ditch lunge.
And five minutes into the second half Mvovo went over for a second time to make it 14-7 when Joe Pietersen kicked the conversion.
Not even the loss of Havili, who was sin-binned for a shoulder charge in the 48th minute, could prevent the Crusaders from collecting their second try of the match a few minutes later when Nadolo touched down in the corner.
Sharks full-back Willie le Roux then thought he had secured a vital score when chasing a long kick from his own half but he was adjudged to have been offside.
And with 72 minutes on the clock, after 15 phases of patient rugby, Read proved to be the match winner when he was able to break free of a defender to secure the decisive try.
It was the home team's first loss of the new campaign, but still leaves them well placed in the South African section of the competition.