Rebels topple Reds in first outing

 

Tighthead prop Cruze Ah-Nau scored two tries, with Tom English and Tom Sexton also scoring, while Mike Harris and Bryce Hegarty didn’t miss any shots on goal.

 

Rebels head coach Tony McGahan was pleased to win, but most importantly to see improvement in his squad.

 

The Rebels play their second and final trial game at Harlequin Rugby Club against the Highlanders this Thursday.

 

On an evening where the focus was on getting some match practice into all 28 players named to travel to Far North Queensland, the Rebels unveiled seven debutants in Cam Crawford, Steve Cummins, Mike Harris, Sefanaia Naivalu, Jonah Placid, Tom Sexton and Dom Shipperley, for a match played in quarters.

 

And it was Wallaby Harris who almost got the Rebels off to the perfect start, being held up over the line just a few minutes in as the Rebels surged positively from the get go.

 

A messy opening quarter saw just the one penalty goal, for the Reds, as scrumhalf Nic Stirzaker and Reds flank Liam Gill were both yellow carded. 

 

The humid, sticky conditions combined with the fact that it was each side’s first match for 2015 ensured a number of handling errors from both sides, however the second quarter brought with it some more open play.

 

The Rebels continued to hold firm in defence despite plenty of Reds pressure, and were rewarded for their patience when English stole the ball on his own try line and managed to sprint the length of the field to score under the posts.

 

Harris added the extras, and the Rebels went into the main break leading 7-3.

 

The second half saw both sides make a number of changes, and saw the scoreboard ticking over at relatively consistent frequencies.

 

The Reds took first blood, Wallaby Beau Robinson forcing his way over for a real forwards’ try, but the Rebels hit straight back through replacement prop Cruze Ah-Nau who barged his way over in a strong carry, Harris converting.

 

Robinson and Ah-Nau then took turns to get over for a second try each as the Rebels continued to hold the lead, before Sexton was able to cap his Rebels debut with a clever try to seal the victory.

 

 

For the Reds:

Tries: Robinson 2

Pen: Paia’aua

 

For the Rebels:

Tries: English, Ah-Nau 2, Sexton

Cons: Harris 3, Hegarty

 

 

 

Forwards: Curtis Browning, Sef Faagase, Saia Fainga'a, Lolo Fakaosilea, Liam Gill, Michael Gunn, James Hanson, James Horwill, Adam Korczyk, Marco Kotze, Pettowa Paraka, Beau Robinson, Jake Schatz, James Slipper (captain), Sam Talakai.

 

Backs: Tom Banks, Anthony Fainga'a, Chris Feauai-Sautia, Nick Frisby, Scott Gale, Will Genia, Karmichael Hunt (VC), Sam Johnson, Samu Kerevi, Chris Kuridrani, Campbell Magnay, Duncan Paia'aua, Jamie-Jerry Taulagi.

 

Rebels squad: Cruze Ah-Nau, Paul Alo-Emile, Luke Burgess, Cam Crawford, Steve Cummins, Jack Debreczeni, Tom English, Colby Fainga’a, Scott Fuglistaller, Mike Harris, Bryce Hegarty, Scott Higginbotham, Mitch Inman, Sam Jeffries, Luke Jones, Pat Leafa, Sean McMahon, Ben Meehan, Sefanaia Naivalu, Cadeyrn Neville, Jonah Placid, Jordy Reid, Tom Sexton, Dom Shipperley, Toby Smith, Nic Stirzaker, Telusa Veainu, Laurie Weeks

 

Referee: Rohan Hoffmann

Assistant referees: Damien Mitchelmore, Local