VIDEO: Chiefs tackle Reds into submission
SUPER RUGBY REPORT: The Chiefs produced a remarkable defensive effort to hold out the Reds, winning 19-13 in an arm-wrestle in Hamilton on Friday.
The Chiefs scored three first-half tries, to lead 19-6 at the break.
The Reds scored the only second-half points – a converted try by prop Taniela Tupou.
However, the Chiefs made an amazing 242 tackles against the Reds’ 85, to hold out numerous raids where the Reds took the ball through 15-plus phases.
“Man, that was an immense effort to hold the Reds out, they were outstanding in the second half,” Chiefs captain Brad Weber said.
“We were probably our own worst enemy, giving away a ton of penalties and couldn’t get out of our own half.”
The win takes the Chiefs above Blues in the New Zealand conference and makes a spot in the play-offs a mathematical possibility, although most teams in contention have a game in hand on them and results would need to go their way.
The result dents the Reds’ finals prospects and skipper Izack Rodda admitted it was frustrating.
“The last five minutes we were on their line and just going and going, credit to the Chiefs for holding us out, it was an amazing effort,” he said.
Brad Thorn’s Reds dominated large chunks of the match in Hamilton, yet struggled to break down a belligerent Chiefs defence, which has been the leakiest in the competition.
The match ended on an appropriate note, with a Reds drive held up over the tryline, consigning them to a third straight loss and leaving them needing a minor miracle to finish in the top eight.
Queensland haven’t reached the finals since 2013, which was the last time they won a game in New Zealand.
Numbers-wise, they deserved to break that drought, forcing the Chiefs to make an astonishing 242 tackles.
Frustrated to trail 6-19 at halftime, the Reds tightened their mortgage of the ball after the break, when they were credited with 91 percent of territory and 85 percent possession.
However, they dearly missed rested captain Samu Kerevi, who has been a destructive attacking force at inside centre.
Reduced to one-off running, they were easily picked off by a Chiefs defence, whose only try concession was to burrowing Reds prop Taniela Tupou midway through the second half.
The Reds came close to scoring twice in the first half through forwards Angus Scott-Young and Alex Mafi but tries were disallowed for double movements.
Rare Chiefs attacking forays resulted in tries to No.8 Pita Sowakula, prop Atu Moli and wing Etene Nanai-Seturo while Bryce Hegarty slotted two penalties for the visitors.
There was a lengthy delay early in the second half when Reds prop Harry Hooper needed treatment in the neck/shoulder region and was eventually stretchered from the field. He was later cleared of serious injury.
Queensland’s eighth loss from 13 games leaves them only ahead of the Sunwolves overall.
They’re leapfrogged by the Chiefs, who picked up a fifth win but are also firm outsiders to reach the play-offs.
Man of the match: Izack Rodda, Angus Blyth and Taniela Tupou were the real troopers in a remarkable forward effort by the Reds. Pita Sowakula, Nathan Harris and Lachlan Boshier were the Chiefs’ most productive forwards. Sowakula also cored a first-half try, but Boshier won a number of crucial turnovers in the second half – finishing with four of his team’s eight turnovers in the face of that second-half rally by the Reds. He wins our award.
The scorers:
For the Chiefs:
Tries: Sowakula, Moli, Nanai-Seturo
Cons: McKenzie 2
For the Reds:
Try: Tupou
Con: Hegarty
Pens: Hegarty 2
RECAP: Reds v Chiefs
Did you miss any of the action? Recap all the drama here!
Teams:
Chiefs: 15 Solomon Alaimalo, 14 Shaun Stevenson, 13 Tumua Manu, 12 Alex Nankivell, 11 Etene Nanai-Seturo, 10 Marty McKenzie, 9 Brad Weber, 8 Pita Gus Sowakula, 7 Lachlan Boshier, 6 Sam Cane (captain), 5 Tyler Ardron, 4 Jesse Parete, 3 Nepo Laulala, 2 Nathan Harris, 1 Atu Moli.
Replacements: 16 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 17 Aidan Ross, 18 Sosefo Kautai, 19 Daymon Leasuasu, 20 Mitchell Karpik, 21 Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, 22 Jack Debreczeni, 23 Sean Wainui.
Reds: 15 Matt McGahan, 14 Jock Campbell, 13 Seb Wileman, 12 Duncan Paia’aua, 11 Sefa Naivalu, 10 Bryce Hegarty, 9 Tate McDermott, 8 Angus Scott-Young, 7 Liam Wright, 6 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 5 Angus Blyth, 4 Izack Rodda (captain), 3 Taniela Tupou, 2 Alex Mafi, 1 Harry Hoopert.
Replacements: 16 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 17 Feao Fotuaika, 18 Ruan Smith, 19 Adam Korczyk, 20 Scott Higginbotham, 21 Scott Malolua, 22 Teti Tela, 23 Liam McNamara.
Referee: Angus Gardner (Australia)
Assistant referees: Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand), Dan Waenga (New Zealand)
TMO: Glenn Newman (New Zealand)
