AUCKLAND (Reuters) - Winger Manasa Mataele scored two tries, while referee Nick Briant awarded two penalty tries as the Canterbury Crusaders began their quest for a 10th Super Rugby title with a 24-22 win over the Auckland Blues at Eden Park on Saturday.
The Blues could have snatched a late victory but replacement flyhalf Harry Plummer missed a long-range penalty with less than three minutes remaining, shortly after he had also missed a much easier conversion.
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