(Reuters) - Richie Mo'unga drove a resolute and clinical Canterbury Crusaders around the field as they beat South Africa's Lions 37-18 to clinch their ninth Super Rugby title in front of a sold-out crowd at Rugby League Park in Christchurch on Saturday.
The Crusaders flyhalf slotted 17 points with the boot and provided the attacking spark for the Crusaders, who defended for much of the match and seized what scoring chances they had.
Not even a late yellow card to Ryan Crotty was able to stop the Crusaders, who scored tries to outside backs Seta Tamanivalu and David Havili, lock Scott Barrett and replacement scrumhalf Mitchell Drummond.
Flanker Cyle Brink and hooker Malcolm Marx scored tries for the Lions, who suffered their third successive final defeat, having lost to the Wellington Hurricanes in 2016 and Crusaders last year.
(Reporting by Greg Stutchbury; Editing by Amlan Chakraborty)