A dominating performance has seen the Chiefs hammer the Crusaders 40-16 in round three action of Super Rugby in front of a vocal Waikato Stadium crowd in Hamilton.

In what has become one of Super Rugby's fiercest rivalries, the Crusaders looked to topple an unbeaten Chiefs side in front of 18166 fans but who in turn were on the receiving end of a clinical display by the hosts as they ran out five tries to one winners.

Chiefs hammered Crusaders 40-16 at Waikato Stadium. Photos by: Tracy Hardy.

After an early scuffle, it was the visitors who landed the first points when Crusaders first five-eighth Colin Slade knocked over his long range attempt.

Another Slade penalty saw the southerners stretch their advantage when the Chiefs were judged to be offside while defending their try line.

Although in an action packed opening 10 minutes the Chiefs found themselves down to 14 men when winger James Lowe had unintentionally taken out Crusaders lock Scott Barrett in the air from the kickoff.

It didn't seem to change the Chiefs plans as they continued to charge ahead and in a fantastic team effort, the home side were in for the game's first try when second five Sonny Bill Williams darted over after some excellent handling in the lead up.

When Lowe returned from his 10 minute spell in the sin bin, referee Mike Fraser issued another yellow card this time to Crusaders captain Matt Todd for a similar offence where he brought down a Chiefs player in the air.

The Chiefs seemed to convert on the extra man advantage when they took control of possession and rumbled up the field.

As the Crusaders defence backtracked, Chiefs halfback Augustine Pulu seized the opening and squeezed his way through and over to grab the lead for his side.

Both Slade and Cruden slotted further three pointers for their respective teams, but soon after the Chiefs broke through once more to widen the margin.

A brilliant set piece move by the Chiefs backs from the lineout put them deep in Crusaders territory and moments later the hosts pinpointed the space out wide and allowed centre Charlie Ngatai to cruise in for they third try of the night.

The Crusaders plugged away at their opponents and looked to close the gap as half time neared, however Slade pulled his penalty attempt wide and meant the Chiefs would go into the break in control at 22-9.

Heading into the second half, the visitors aimed to claw their way back into the contest and did exactly that when a returning Andy Ellis sniped his way over to narrow the margin.

A second Cruden penalty restored some of the earlier advantage and it looked as through the Chiefs might've bagged their bonus point try when it appeared fullback Tom Marshall had scored.

Unfortunately, some desparate defence by the men in red and black denied the former Crusader as the TMO later confirmed he had knocked the ball on.

The Chiefs continued to keep the scoreboard ticking over as All Black playmaker Cruden added to his team's and his own points tally.

With the Chiefs enjoying possession and hammering the Crusaders defensive line, the live wire Pulu managed to see the open space out wide, launching a bullet pass out to winger Bryce Heem who then layed on the pass to a rampaging Marshall who would not be stopped the second time around.

The jubilant Waikato Stadium crowd rose to their feet once more, when the Chiefs pounced on a turnover and didn't waste time handing it to a blistering Lowe who sped in for the fifth try and almost certainly killing off any chance the Crusdaers might've had.

Still full of running the Chiefs looked to heap more pain onto the Crusaders side and battled away right to the final whistle.

Despite youngster Damian McKenzie heading to the bin for a dangerous tackle it couldn't dampen the Chiefs mood as they ran out deserving victors.

Post match, Chiefs coach Dave Rennie was stoked with how the team performed against a renowned tough rival and took away quite a few positives.

"I think for the majority of the game, we controlled it pretty well. We got over the chalk five times which has never been done in the history of the Chiefs and Crusaders," he said.

Centre Charlie Ngatai also shared his coach's thoughts and found it was pleasing to put a solid team performance together to get a win over a gritty a Crusaders team.

"The Crusaders really brought it to us in the first half and it's one of those games where you have to grind out the full 80 minutes," he said.

"But it really pleasing with the score at the end of the game."

Next up for the in form Chiefs are the Highlanders next Friday night where they will expect another tough challenge. Kick off is scheduled at 7.35pm

While Rennie admitted there were some injury concerns, namely lock and All Black Brodie Retallick who appeared to suffer a knock to his shoulder, he was confident there was enough depth in the squad for the a tough encounter next week.

"They'll [Highlanders] come up here knowing that they've beaten us here before, and take confidence from that. We certainly won't be looking at it lightly."

Score Summary

Chiefs: 40 (Williams, Pulu, Ngatai, Marshall, Lowe tries; Cruden 3 pen, 3 con)

Crusaders:16 (Ellis try, Slade 3 pen, con)

As it Happened.

Minute. Match Detail. Score.

2. Slade pen. 0-3

7. Slade pen. 0-6

12. Williams try. 5-6

21. Pulu try. 10-6

22. Cruden con. 12-6

25. Slade pen. 12-9

30. Cruden pen. 15-9

32. Ngatai try. 20-9

33. Cruden con. 22-9

Half time.

45. Ellis try. 22-14

46. Slade con. 22-16

48. Cruden pen. 25-16

55. Cruden pen. 28-16

61. Marshall try. 33-16

67. Lowe try. 38-16

68. Cruden con. 40-16