The Crusaders' scored four unanswered second-half tries to hammer the Lions 31-6 in Christchurch and stay clear at the top of the Super 14 table.

With eight changes to the starting 15 from their previous game against the Hurricanes, an out-of-sorts Crusaders trailed 6-3 at halftime.

But they regathered for the second half and needed just 20 minutes to score four fine tries while keeping their opponents scoreless to maintain their unbeaten record after eight matches.

Right wing Sean Maitland, hooker Ti'i Paulo, left wing Caleb Ralph and halfback Andrew Ellis were the scorers.

For Ralph, it was his 58th try in Super rugby, one short of equalling the record held by former Blues winger Doug Howlett.

The try of the match, though, was the Crusaders' last.

The home side broke out of their 22 metre zone with the ball passing through 10 pairs of hands before Maitland was stopped one metre out near the right corner flag.

Ellis plucked the ball from the base of the ruck and cheekily dived over the top of it - American football style - to dot down for the bonus-point fourth try.

After coach Robbie Deans decided to rest a number of his leading players such as Leon MacDonald, Brad Thorn, Stephen Brett and Richie McCaw, the Crusaders' pool of experience was further diluted after 15 minutes when skipper Reuben Thorne came off with an injured hand and took no further part in the game.

They trailed by three points after five minutes and were pinned down in their half as the Lions kicked well and their tight forwards such as hooker Ethienne Reynecke and props Ross Geldenhuys and Heinke van der Merwe were dominant.

Despite a good amount of possession the Lions were unable to break through for a try, with the Crusaders defence remaining solid even if their attack was patchy.

Rookie five-eighth Hamish Gard equalised with a penalty in the eighth minute but halfback Chris Jonck restored the Lions' lead with a second penalty in the 13th minute.

Lions wing Rayno Benjamin was shown the yellow card in the 38th minute for blatant offside play.

That error drew heavy punishment from the Crusaders who took the lead shortly after the restart with a penalty and a try while Benjamin was still off.

Right wing Maitland's try on the missing Benjamin's side of the field came after a well setup backline move by Gard.

Paulo completed a forward rumble and, in a mirror image of Maitland's try, Ralph crossed on the other side of the field minutes later.

Ellis' try then secured the Crusaders the four-try bonus point.

There was little the Lions, who had beaten the Crusaders 9-3 at home last season, could do and they once again left Christchurch, where they have never won, empty-handed.

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