It wasn't classic Crusaders, with a high error rate costing the home team. But the Sharks would not have been undeserving of victory.

Possession counted. After 72 minutes the Sharks were still in the lead but they were battling. They had given away four penalties. They had lost line-outs. They could get meagre ball, and when they got it they kicked it back to the Crusaders who were intent on running after being down 20-6 after three minutes in the second half.

In fact after three minutes in the second half, except for one foray, the Sharks were not an attacking force. Yet it took a dropped goal by Daniel Carter, seven minutes from time, to produce the victory for the mighty Crusaders in the lovely coastal town of Timaru which had turned out in force for the occasion.

The Crusaders made many errors as the Sharks put them under pressure. Afterwards Richie McCaw said: "The guys were a bit tired."

Presumably the Sharks from Durban had no excuse of fatigue!

The Sharks were astonishing. There was no throwing a match against their much-vaunted opponents, no apologies, no after-you. Instead they led 13-6 at the break.

Both sides could well have had a try each more but for errors, the first by a player, the second by a touch judge.

The Sharks attacked - Odwa Ndungane gave to Jacques Botes who gave a gentle pass to his skipper who was five metres from the line with nobody in front of him, but AJ Venter dropped the pass.

The Crusaders attacked on their left and Aaron Mauger slipped out of a tackle for a clear run to the line, but called back because the touch judge had decided - erroneously - that his foot had been in touch.

The Crusaders scored in the first minute when the Sharks were penalised at the kick off and Daniel Carter kicked the easy penalty.

When McCaw was penalised, Percy Montgomery levelled the scores, and then took his side ahead. Carter broke and threw a long pass to his right. Montgomery stepped forward, caught the pass and ran 60 metres to score a try which he converted. The Sharks led 10-3.

It was after this that Mauger was judged to have put a foot in touch. Then on 28 minutes he and Tony Brown left the field. Brown's departure was a blow for the Sharks who were battling to fill the fly-half berth. Brown's Japanese team had progressed far enough to keep him out of the game and now he hobbled off with a serious-looking knee injury. On came teenager Brad Barritt, while Cameron McIntyre, a Highlander last year, replaced Mauger.

When Ross Filipo was penalised at a tackle, Montgomery, who had missed an easy kick at goal, goaled this one, 13-3.

On the stroke of half-time Carter goaled to make it 13-6 at the break.

The Sharks scored first in the second half, and it was fortuitous. Montgomery kicked. The ball was charged down and ricocheted back to Barritt who caught it under pressure, broke past two tacklers and suddenly found lots of space. Down the field he ran till he gave to flying Odwa Ndungane who raced 22 metres to score under the posts. Montgomery converted and there were the Sharks leading an incredible 20-6.

Slow motion replays showed that it had not been Greg Somerville's body which had blocked Montgomery's kick, but BJ Botha's which suggested that a scrum for accidental off-side would have been in order.

Five minutes later the Crusaders got their first try of the match when they bashed down the left, McCaw leading the way twice. Then it went wide right with Leon MacDonald in the line to give the final pass to Rico Gear who got past Montgomery to score. 20-11 to the Sharks with 32 minutes to play.

When Johan Muller was penalised for being late and armless at a tackle, Carter kicked the easy kick to make it 20-14.

At this stage the game belonged to the Crusaders but it takes two to play. If the defenders beat the attackers they are winning an important half of the game. Carter was in charge of events, McCaw charging with great effect.

Carter kicked a diagonal kick which Caleb Ralph collected but Montgomery got him near the touch-line.

From a five-metre scrum the Crusaders went left. Kevin Senio bashed for the line. Tackled he got the ball back quickly and Ralph, playing his 92nd continuous match for the Crusaders, was over in the left corner. 20-19 to the Sharks with ten minutes left.

The Crusaders bashed the ball upfield, charging at close quarters again and again till Carter sent a drop soaring over the bar for the victory.

The Sharks had one last chance but overthrew the line-out and lost it. In all they lost six line-outs on their own throw in the match, and that was expensive.

The Crusaders had a penalty near the Shark's line as the final siren sounded but McCaw opted to hoof the ball out, thus ensuring the Sharks the relief of a bonus point as honourable losers.

Man of the Match: For the Sharks Percy Montgomery and Odwa Ndungane had fine performances. For the Crusaders the two most obvious stars were Daniel Carter and Richie McCaw with Leon MacDonald always a threat to the visitors. But our Man of the Match is Ruan Pienaar for his attacking flair, his eager defence and his calm effectiveness.

The scorers:

For the Crusaders:
Tries: Gear, Ralph
Pens: Carter 3
DG: Carter

For the Sharks:
Tries: Montgomery, Ndungane
Cons: Montgomery 2
Pens: Montgomery 2

Teams:

Crusaders: 15 Leon MacDonald, 14 Rico Gear, 13 Casey Laulala, 12 Aaron Mauger, 11 Caleb Ralph, 10 Daniel Carter, 9 Kevin Senio, 8 Mose Tuiali'i, 7 Richard McCaw (captain), 6 Reuben Thorne, 5 Ross Filipo, 4 Chris Jack, 3 Campbell Johnstone, 2 Corey Flynn, 1 Greg Somerville.
Replacements: 16 Tone Kopelani, 17 Wyatt Crockett, 18 Brad Mika, 19 Johnny Leo'o, 20 Matt France, 21 Cameron McIntyre, 22  Scott Hamilton

Sharks: 15 Percy Montgomery, 14 Odwa Ndungane, 13 Waylon Murray, 12 Andries Strauss, 11 Brent Russell, 10 Tony Brown, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Jacques Botes, 7 AJ Venter (captain), 6 Solly Tyibilika, 5 Albert van den Berg, 4 Johann Muller, 3 BJ Botha, 2 Skipper Badenhorst, 1 Deon Carstens.
Replacements: 16 Bismarck du Plessis, 17 Brent Moyle, 18 Johan Ackermann, 19 Daniel Farani, 20 Sandile Nxumalo, 21 Bradley Barritt, 22 Craig Burden

Referee: George Ayoub (Australia)
Touch judges: Daniel Cheever (Australia), Chris Pollock (New Zealand)
Television match official: Gary Wise (New Zealand)
Assessor: Stuart Beissel (New Zealand)