Beware, Burgs rant warning!!! :mad:
See, this is what really irks me about rugby reporters:
The Crusaders have trounced a brave Chiefs outfit 25-19 in their nail-biting Tooheys New Super 14 clash at Waikato Stadium in Hamilton.
I didn't watch this match, I have only the ARU posted match report to go on, but how can you be "trounced" when you are a converted try away from winning the "nail-bitting" match????
A trouncing in my mind is just short of a thrashing, somewhere in the order of a 20-30 point loss. Synonyms from my thesaurus include rout, thrash, crush, overwhelm and slaughter.
With a lucky break at some point in the last twenty minutes the Chiefs could have been in front!
The Chiefs looked a different side in the second half and tested the resilient Crusaders defence on a countless number of times, including a heart-pounding tirade inside the last five minutes.
58 minutes in, the home side appeared to have extended its lead when Sivivatu showed his tremendous power to charge over the line, but a decision by the third match official (TMO) found he had been held up.
The momentum then shifted in favour of the visitors and, after a successful defence of their line, they were in for another try on the back of some Gear brilliance.
Gear charged 30m through a gap in the Chiefs' defence in the 62nd minute before off-loading to Tuiali'i who outpaced his opposite number Sione Lauaki to the line for a converted try to take the Crusaders in front 25-19.
This proved to be the defining moment of the game as the clinical Crusaders held off a relentless assault from the home side to take the points.
You've got to be kidding me...."TROUNCED"?????
How about, "Crusaders hold on to top spot with a fortunate away win against an unlucky Chiefs"?
Just as accurate if you ask me....
Here endith thy rant.... for today ;)
