The Crusaders powered past the Reds 32-12 in wet Christchurch conditions to secure a Super Rugby semi-final berth.
Dominating the scrum from start to finish, the Crusaders exploited repeated penalties to gain territory and momentum, with Scott Barrett and Tamaiti Williams scoring first-half tries.
Despite moments of promise, the Reds failed to capitalise and faded after the break, with a standout try from Noah Hotham sealing the result.
Late Reds tries softened the scoreline, but their season ended in disappointment, while the Crusaders await their next opponent with redemption in sight.
