Reds roar to victory

International Sports

The St.George Queensland Reds have run rampant in the afternoon sun to score their first bonus four-try bonus point of the season in a  42-27  victory over the top of the table Chiefs at Suncorp Stadium on Sunday.

In front of a Reds season high crowd of 36, 479 on Mother’s Day, the Reds scored five tries to four  to give their chances of qualifying for back-to-back FxPro Super Rugby finals an almighty boost.

Trailing 22-15 at halftime, after the competition pacesetting Chiefs had scored three tries in ten minutes, the Reds scored first after the break to level scores at 22-all through Scott Higginbotham, scoring further tries through Will Genia and Saia Faingaa in the second half to seal the inspired win.

After the Reds had missed an uncharacteristic 20 tackles in the first half, fullback Luke Morahan and flanker Liam Gill in particular gave inspired displays of defence in the second 40 as the Chiefs threw wave after wave of attack at the Reds.

The Reds victory ends the Chiefs run of nine straight victories.

The Reds were the first to score when Mike Harris snapped up a misdirected pass from Liam Messam to break free. With three defenders giving chase, Harris fought off one and managed an offload to winger Dom Shipperley, who dived over for his sixth try of the season.

The Chiefs then showed last year’s champions why they’re on top of the table in 2012, scoring three tries in ten minutes. Star centre Sonny Bill Williams was first to pierce the Reds defence and was followed shortly after by Liam Messam and prolific try-scoring prop Sona Taumalolo.

Facing a 22-8 deficit just before halftime, skipper James Horwill turned down the opportunity for a kickable penalty, instead electing for the corner and the move paid off when Ben Lucas scored in the 41st minute.

The Reds carried their momentum into the second half and drew level with the Chiefs with Higginbotham dived over in the 42nd minute.

Willl Genia brought back memories of his Super Rugby final winning try when he cut through the Chiefs midfield defence, scooting 50 metres to touch down in the corner and ignite the Reds run home.

Saia Faingaa finished off a tough period of play from the forwards as he took the lead out to 34-22, before a drop goal from Mike Harris in the 64th minute  and a further penalty in the 76th  took his night’s tally with the boot out to 17 points.

Source: redsrugby.com.au