The Hurricanes missed out to the Crusaders 18-35 in their Investec Super Rugby match on Friday night.

On a crisp night in Nelson, the Hurricanes were out-passioned and out-harried by the Crusaders, who were playing to keep their season alive.

The home side out-scored the Hurricanes four tries to two, after leading 16-8 at halftime.

The Hurricanes cut the Crusaders' lead to one point barely a minute into the second half, super-busy openside flanker Ardie Savea finishing off a spectacular 70-metre try. But the Crusaders pulled ahead again and stayed at arm's length throughout the rest of the match.

Despite taking no competition points from this match, the Hurricanes are guaranteed to maintain at least an eight-point buffer at the top of the New Zealand Conference standings after this weekend. The Highlanders and the Chiefs meet in another key match on Saturday night.

The Hurricanes have two remaining regular season matches to qualify top in the New Zealand conference for the playoffs. They play the Highlanders in Napier next Friday and the Chiefs in New Plymouth the following Saturday.

The boot of Crusaders first five-eighth Dan Carter was the difference in the first half as both sides scored a try apiece. Carter kicked three penalties to go with tries to home-town halfback Mitchell Drummond and Hurricanes hooker Dane Coles.

Earlier, the Hurricanes strung together early phases inside the home team's territory and went closest to scoring the first try with chances in both corners to wings Nehe Milner-Skudder and Julian Savea.

The Crusaders replied with field position and a penalty to first five-eighth Carter to put them ahead 3-0.

Carter and Hurricanes flyhalf Otere Black exchanged further penalties as the Crusaders advanced their lead to 9-3.

The Crusaders scored a well-worked try to halfback Drummond after stealing a Hurricanes lineout and the outside backs combining out wide. Carter's conversion put them ahead 16-3.

Crusaders centre Robbie Fruean was sin-binned for making a dangerous tackle on Milner-Skudder and the Hurricanes again went close to scoring through lock Jeremy Thrush who came up inches short.

Finally, they ran in their first try, with Carter missing a relieving penalty touch finder and Hurricanes hooker Coles threading his way through traffic in open play to dart over the whitewash and close the gap 16-8.

Ardie Savea finished off a stunning long-range Hurricanes team try early in the second half and Black converted to close the gap to 16-15.

The try was started by second five-eighth Nonu, who put through a perfectly weighted stab kick behind the Crusaders' defensive line, which was re-gathered by centre Conrad Smith, who linked up in open space with Milner-Skudder and try scorer Ardie Savea.

The Crusaders hit back with a try to right wing Nafi Tuitavake, with Carter's conversion restoring their 8-point halftime lead.

Black replied with a penalty and the Crusaders led 23-18 after 55 minutes.

Sizable Crusaders wing Nemani Nadolo made a powerful burst in broken play and offloaded one-handed to flanker Matt Todd who dived over to score another try for the home team.

Milner-Skudder intercepted a short pass and set sail up field on a weaving try up towards the tryline. He linked up with replacement back Rey Lee-lo who was cut down just short of the whitewash.

Another Hurricanes replacement, Matt Proctor, went down in open play with a head/neck injury. Spying the gap in the line, Carter kicked across field for Nadolo to recover and he barged over to score their fourth try of the night.

The Hurricanes attacked the chalk to the end, but the Crusaders held on until fulltime.

Scores:

Crusaders 35 (Mitchell Drummond, Nafi Tuitavake, Matt Todd, Nemani Nadolo tries; Dan Carter 3 pen, 3 con) beat the Hurricanes 18 (Dane Coles, Ardie Savea tries; Otere Black 2 pen, con)HT: 16-8

The scoring action (by minute):

11th: Daniel Carter penalty. Crusaders 3-0

15th: Daniel Carter penalty. Crusaders 6-0

19th: Otere Black penalty. Crusaders 6-3

22nd: Daniel Carter penalty. Crusaders 9-3

26th: Mitchell Drummond try. Crusaders 14-3

27th: Daniel Carter conversion. Crusaders 16-3

34th: Dane Coles try. Crusaders 16-8

41st: Ardie Savea try. Crusaders 16-13

42nd: Otere Black conversion. Crusaders 16-15

47th: Nafi Tuitavake try. Crusaders 21-15

48th: Daniel Carter conversion. Crusaders 23-15

55h: Otere Black penalty. Crusaders 23-18

57th: Matt Todd try. Crusaders 28-18

58th: Daniel Carter conversion. Crusaders 30-18

70th: Nemani Nadolo try. Crusaders 35-18

The Hurricanes team was:

1. Reggie Goodes Replaced by Ben May, 65th minute

2. Dane Coles

3. Jeffery Toomaga-Allen Replaced by Ben Franks, 48th minute

4. Jeremy Thrush Replaced by Mark Abott, 73rd minute

5. James Broadhurst

6. Brad Shields Replaced by Victor Vito, 48th minute

7. Ardie Savea

8. Blade Thomson

9. TJ Perenara

10. Otere Black Replaced by Matt Proctor, 59th minute

11. Julian Savea Replaced by Rey Lee-lo, 68th minute

12. Ma'a Nonu

13. Conrad Smith

14. Nehe Milner-Skudder

15. James Marshall

Reserves

16. Motu Matu'u

17. Ben May

18. Ben Franks

19. Mark Abbott

20. Victor Vito

21. Chris Smylie

22. Rey Lee-Lo

23. Matt Proctor Replaced by Chris Smylie, 71st minute