Reds break drought in nine-try thriller
The Reds moved off the bottom of the Super Rugby standings with a thrilling 38-31 win over the Highlanders in Brisbane on Friday.
The entertaining encounter, which produced nine tries and plenty of entertainment value, has put a serious dent in the Highlanders' play-off aspirations.
They will be anxiously waiting for other results this weekend, to see if they remain in the top six.
However, the reds will be celebrating a rare win in a very tough season.
Having gone eight week and six matches without a win, the Reds came sprinting out the blocks and held a 21-0 lead – eventually holding on in the face of a powerful Highlanders comeback in the second half.
In the end the Reds scored the match-winning try two minutes after the full-time hooter had sounded.
In a first half dominated by the Reds – based on set-piece dominance and a turnover count that went into double figures – the Reds raced out to a commanding 21-0 lead.
The first try came on the back of a solid scrum, from which the Reds went blind. Mike Harris slipped a tackle, before having been dragged down a few metres short. The Reds continued to press in front of the uprights, with the try going to Curtis Browning, who managed to burrow his way over the line from close out. Harris added the conversion – 7-0 after just 13 minutes.
The Reds had to wait till the half-hour mark, for their next score – despite continuing to dominate proceedings.
It was created through the genius of Will Genia, who produced a box-kick of supreme accuracy – Rod Davies just missing the ball, but Rod Davis followed up to get the five-pointer. Harris again added the extras – 14-0.
That became 21-0 (also the half-time score) when the Reds affected another turnover, after the Highlanders had failed to control the ball inside their 22. Genia, at first receiver, chipped it into the corner and Dom Shipperley ran onto the ball – which sat up for him – to dive over. Harris continued his good form with the boot.
The Highlander gave themselves a glimmer of hope early in the second half, with a solid scrum setting the foundation for their opening score.
Richard Buckman came in at first receiver, with the Reds failing to secure a turnover, and it came back for Shaun Treeby – who went close. Aaron Smith spotted Lima Sopoaga running a reverse angle towards the ruck, popped it up to him and he bashed over for the try. Sopoaga added the extras – 7-21.
However, the Highlanders gifted the reds their next try – their scrum disintegrating and the Reds marching them back over their own line – with Jake Schatz eventually getting his hands on the ball. Harris made it 28-7.
The Highlanders' second try had a touch of good fortune to it – Sopoaga attempted a grubber, it hit a Reds player and bounced out to Buckman all the way on the other wing, who had an open run in for the five-pointer. Sopoaga added the touch-line conversion – 14-28.
Hayden Parker and Mike Harris exchanged penalties, as they game remained delicately poised.
Then, five minutes from time, Patrick Osborne intercepted a long pass and sprinted 80 metres. Even though Davies caught him from behind, he was close enough to stretch over and score. The Parker conversion made it 24-31.
One minute from time the Highlanders got level in dramatic fashion, when the Highlanders kept charging at the Reds' line – with a free kick and a penalty advantage going their way – before Japanese import Fumiaki Tanaka dove over a ruck. The TMO had a look, but awarded the try, Parker's conversion levelling the scores at 31-all.
But the drama did not end there. The Reds regathered the ball from the restart and charged at the Highlanders, taking the ball through multiple phases till, eventually, Schatz went over near the uprights or his second try.
That score came a full two minutes after the hooter for full-time had already sounded. Harris added the conversion to seal the thrilling win – 38-31.
Man of the match: The two Smiths, Ben and Aaron, were the Highlanders' biggest threats on attack. Patrick Osborne was also a big threat. Mike Harris with his goal-kicking, as well as Jake Schatz on defence and with ball in hand were good value. However, our award goes to Reds scrumhalf Will Genia, who seems to have found his creative form.
The scorers:
For the Reds:
Tries: Browning, Davies, Shipperley, Schatz 2
Cons: Harris 5
Pen: Harris
For the Highlanders:
Tries: Sopoaga, Buckman, Osborne, Tanaka
Cons: Sopoaga 2, Parker 2
Pen: Parker
Teams:
Reds: 15 Mike Harris, 14 Dom Shipperley, 13 Ben Tapuai, 12 Anthony Fainga'a, 11 Rod Davies, 10 Ben Lucas, 9 Will Genia, 8 Jake Schatz, 7 Beau Robinson, 6 Curtis Browning, 5 James Horwill (captain), 4 Rob Simmons, 3 Greg Holmes, 2 James Hanson, 1 James Slipper.
Replacements: 16 Andrew Ready, 17 Albert Anae, 18 Sef Faagase, 19 Dave McDuling, 20 Liam Gill, 21 Nick Frisby, 22 Samu Kerevi, 23 Jamie-Jerry Taulagi.
Highlanders: 15 Ben Smith (co-captain), 14 Richard Buckman, 13 Malakai Fekitoa, 12 Shaun Treeby, 11 Patrick Osborne, 10 Lima Sopoaga, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Nasi Manu (co-captain), 7 Shane Christie, 6 Gareth Evans, 5 Joe Wheeler, 4 Jarrad Hoeata, 3 Ma'afu Fia, 2 Liam Coltman, 1 Kane Hames.
Replacements: 16 Ged Robinson, 17 Matias Diaz, 18 Chris King, 19 Tom Franklin, 20 Elliot Dixon, 21 Fumiaki Tanaka, 22 Hayden Parker, 23 Phil Burleigh.
Referee: Andrew Lees (Australia)
Assistant referees: Rohan Hoffmann (Australia), Graham Cooper (Australia)
TMO: Steve Leszczynski (Australia)
