The table-topping Crusaders were made to fight for every point as they came from behind to beat a valiant Reds team 27-21 in a Super 14 clash in Brisbane on Saturday.

The Reds lead 21-8 with 20 minutes left but the Crusaders showed their pedigree as they fought back to snatch a dramatic six-point win.

The have know assured they will finish on top of the log as they stretched their lead to 12 points with one match to play.

It was a memorable match in Brisbane on a balmy Brisbane evening. Nobody gave the Reds a chance of beating the Crusaders. They came within five minutes of causing the upset of the century, but it was no fairytale ending for the Reds.

The home team played with passion not yet seen this season, but the classy Crusaders kept their composure and came away with all five points.

The action started in the very first minute when Reds fullback Chris Latham had his kick charged down by Kahn Fotuali'i. The No.9 gathered the ball and seemed to be try-bound but the Reds scrambled back in defence to thwart the early threat. That scrambling defence was to become a hallmark of the next 80 minutes.

It was all the Crusaders for the next five minutes as they surged towards the Reds try-line. Kieran Read made a telling break on the five minute mark but the home team hung on.

Moments later the self-same Read put Tuiali'i into acres of space. But once again the Reds were saved — this time by Brad Thorn — who dropped the ball with an open line in front of him.

But the pressure had to tell. And it did! After some slick handling from Brett, Laulala and Bateman, Kade Poki was freed up out wide. He did well to avoid one defender to dive over in the corner. Brett missed a difficult conversion, but it looked ominous for the Reds. 5-0 after 10 minutes.

It got worse for the Reds soon after Poki's try as their talisman Chris Latham left the field with what looked like a shoulder injury. The No.15 was visibly distraught in what could end of being is last game for the Reds.

But totally against the run of play, the Reds hit back. Some great work from Cooper, Barnes and Turinui ended in skipper Horwill receiving an inside pass from Barnes to streak 22 metres to score a great try. Schifcofske made no mistake with the conversion to put the home side in the lead. 7-5 after 12 minutes.

Horwill's try changed the momentum of the game completely. Reds flank David Croft break from the scrum to put the home team on the attack again. The ball was swung wide to Turinui who made another telling burst. His floated pass found Peter Hynes who somehow managed to avoid Leon MacDonald and Tim Bateman to score the Reds' second try in five minutes.

Once again Schifcofske made no mistake with the conversion to make it 14-5 after 19 minutes.

It was helter-skelter stuff for the first quarter as the 'Saders narrowed the gap in the 22nd minute when Reds No.9 Ben Lucas was penalised for a dangerous tackle. Stephen Brett stepped up to make it 14-8 to the home team after 22 minutes.

It was a strange first 30 minutes in Brisbane. The Crusaders started like a house on fire and looked in total control, but the Reds came back to dominate the next stanza of play.

After their lapse of concentration the Crusaders began taking control once again, albeit not on the scoreboard. The pack rumbled close a few times. The ball was then passed to Brett, who swung a speculative pass out wide. Maitland beat Barnes with a great step but knocked the ball on in a Schifcofske tackle.

The Reds then came close to scoring on the stroke of half time but Horwill's burst was in vain. 14-8 to the Reds at the break. Who would have thought?

The Reds started the second half with vigour and put the six-time champions under pressure.

Replacement wing Digby Ioane surged down midfield as the Crusaders, surprisingly, looked vulnerable. The forwards rumbled it up within five metres before No.10 Cooper received the ball. Players were screaming for the ball to be passed wide but the young flyhalf was having none of it. He stepped once, twice and scored the Reds' third try.

Schifcofske made it 21-8 after 50 minutes. The upset of the season was well and truly on the cards.

Cooper's try prompted the arrival of Dan Carter after a injury-enforced layoff. Replacement scrumhalf Andrew Ellis also came on for Kahn Fotuali'i. The world's best No.10 was to have a significant influence on the final result.

His entrance seemed to have an immediate influence, albeit a psychological one. The Reds propelled wave after wave of attack as the 'Saders hammered away at the try-line.

It was tremendous defence from the home side. Guts personified as they turned the ball over after the Crusaders looked certain to score.

There were 20 minutes left for the Crusaders to avoid a shock defeat. The Reds continued to defend manfully until Corey Flynn went over the try-line. Amazingly he was held up by some more phenomenal defence.

Moments later Digby Ioane spear-tackled Casey Laulala. It was ugly as Laulala's face hit the ground before the rest of his body. Ioane was lucky to get away with just a yellow card.

The pressure eventually told as Kieran Read bashed his way over from close range. Dan Carter signalled his return with a well taken conversion to reduce the gap to just six points. It set up a thrilling final 13 minutes with the Reds desperate to hold on against all the odds.

The Crusaders' class was coming to the fore as they pounded at the Reds' line. Carter stepped but his pass found Berrick Barnes who hacked it into touch. Still the Reds were holding on with the clock ticking.

Carter was prominent once again as a clever inside pass put MacDonald into space. They were three metres out.

The Reds were then down to 13 men as Ben Lucas was sin-binned for playing the ball with his foot whilst he was on the ground. It would be a Herculean effort if the Reds were to hold on for the last seven minutes with 13 minutes.

In the 74th minute, the Reds turned the ball over and cleared their lines. Magnificent defence. The Crusaders attacked again. The Reds tackled like they had been tackling for the previous 75 minutes.

But the numerical advantage had to tell. The 'Saders had numbers out wide and Ali Williams was free on the wing. He wasn't going to be stopped as he dived over in the corner. Dan Carter has the chance to put the Crusaders in front. He put the ball through the middle to give his team a one point lead. Who would have doubted the mercurial Carter?

The Reds were out on their feet and the Crusaders were not finished yet. The ball was hacked ahead and that man Carter was on hand to score his team's fourth try. 27-21 with two minutes to go.

What a finale. The Reds got it back from the kick-off and Hynes streaked down the left-hand touchline. They got the penalty and set up the line-out. They mauled and got another penalty. There was no time for the line-out. They tapped and charged for the line, but Scott Higginbotham knocked on.

Game over as the Reds players heads dropped. They needn't have. They did themselves proud. They may have lost but they were all winners in the eyes of their faithful fans.

365