Crusaders winger James Kerr about to beat Blues fullback Adrian Cashmore to the ball for the winning try in the 79th minute  1998 Ubix Rugby Super 12 Final  May 30 at Eden Park, Auckland  Canterbury Crusaders  20  Tries: Norm Maxwell, James Kerr  Cons: Andrew Mehrtens (2)  Pens: Mehrtens (2)  Auckland Blues  13  Tries: James Christian  Cons: Adrian Cashmore  Pens: Cashmore  Drops: Cashmore  Halftime: Crusaders 3-0    SWEET VICTORY: Crusaders captain Todd Blackadder raises his arms in triumph at the final whistle  Todd Blackadder raises the trophy that the Crusaders won this afternoon  T e a m s . BLUES: Adrian Cashmore, Joeli Vidiri, Eroni Clarke, Lee Stensness, Caleb Ralph, Carlos Spencer, Ofisa Tonu'u, Xavier Rush, Mark Carter, Michael Jones (c), Robin Brooke, Royce Willis, Olo Brown, James Christian, Craig Dowd.  CRUSADERS: Daryl Gibson, James Kerr, Tabai Matson (Tony Marsh 45min), Mark Mayerhofler (Blair Feeney 74min), Norm Berryman (Daryl Lilley 27min), Andrew Mehrtens, Aaron Flynn, Steve Surridge, Scott Robertson (Angus Gardiner 57min), Todd Blackadder (c), Reuben Thorne, Norman Maxwell, Stu Loe, Mark Hammett, Kevin Nepia (Greg Feek (63min).

The Canterbury Crusaders have wrestled rugby's Super 12 title from the Auckland Blues with an intense 20-13 victory over the two-time champions in front of a very vocal capacity crowd at Eden Park.  

The match was won with just two minutes on the clock. With the scores locked 13-13, Crusaders winger James Kerr scored the winning try after the Blues defence bungled an Andrew Mehrtens' kick. 

Before that moment, it was anybody's game as two champion teams smashed away at each other in the most ferocious final of Super 12's short history. 

In the end it was probably Canterbury's brick wall defence that ended Auckland's reign. The Red and Blacks held out bravely, and sometimes barely, for long periods of the game. They repelled wave after wave of attack early in the second half when at times it looked like Auckland must score and take the game by the scruff of the neck. 

Somehow they held out and when their few chances presented themselves, they grabbed them. Both their tries came from putting pressure on the Auckland defence, pressure the home side was unable to handle. 

Up 3-0 after a bruising first half, the Crusaders were rocked in the first minute of the second spell, when a brilliant run by Blues second-five Lee Stensness saw rookie hooker James Christian dive over under the posts. 

Adrian Cashmore slotted the conversion and a drop goal moments later and with the Blues on the boil and up 10-3 it looked like the threepeat was well and truly on. 

But the Crusaders are nothing if not resolute. They turned the pressure back on Auckland and against the run of play, big Norman Maxwell capitalised on some Blues blundering on defence, picked up the loose ball and loped to the tryline. Mehrtens converted to tied it up again. 

Cashmore put his side out by three with another penalty, but Mehrtens got things back to 13-13 with five minutes to go. 

Enter James Kerr. 

Hot on attack, Mehrtens used his educated boot, popping one into the box just a metre from the Auckland line. 

The ball took a cruel bounce between fullback Cashmore and halfback Ofisa Tonu'u. Tonu'u juggled it back over the line, juggled it again, then dropped it and Kerr pounced. 

Not wanted by the Blues at the start of the season, it was ironic that Kerr should sink them with his second try of the season. 

As it did last week in the semifinal against the Sharks, the class of Mehrtens shone out in the victory. His vision and tactical kicking were crucial to keeping his side in the game and then his pinpoint kick that Kerr latched onto was the match-winner. 

All around him there were heroes. Flanker Scott Robertson and his replacement Angus Gardiner ran themselves into the ground and captain Todd Blackadder was his usual inspirational self. 

In the lineouts, Maxwell had a lock on his own ball and snaffled a couple of key Blues' throws and while the backs had limited chances on attack, their defence epitomised the Crusaders' spirit. 

The loss, the Blues' first at Eden Park and their first to another New Zealand team in the Super 12, was not without honour. They played entertaining rugby, scored one excellent try and were right in with a chance of a third straight title until the final moments. 

They dominated in the tight. All Blacks Olo Brown, Craig Dowd and Robin Brooke were to the forefront, with newcomers Christian and Royce Willis following their example. 

Legendary captain Michael Jones tackled himself to a standstill - sternum injury and all. His bone-cruncher on Tony Marsh in final minutes was one for the scrapbook. 

Out wide, Lee Stensness was all class and played his best game of the season, while Joeli Vidiri looked dangerous every time he got the ball, but his opportunities were far too few. 

However, they wasted too many chances; taking wrong options and kicking away far too much ball in the attacking quarter and in the end lacked the killer punch that had been the their trademark. 

But while the Blues fought hard, take nothing away from the Cantabrians. 

A team with a huge heart, their crusade has finally come to its end with the capture of provincial rugby's Holy Grail.