Reds surprise by beating Chiefs
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Queensland fullback Luke Morahan scored a match-winning try as the Reds fought back from 15 points down to beat the Waikato Chiefs 23-18 in their Super 14 match in Hamilton on Friday.
The injury-ravaged Reds trailed 15-0 inside the first 20 minutes and also had winger Brando Va’aulu sin binned for a dangerous tackle but fought back to beat the heavily-favoured Chiefs, who had won their first three games away from home.
“You can’t win games when you’re struggling for ball and tackling like that,” Chiefs captain Mils Muliaina said in a televised interview. “It’s very disappointing to come home and lose like that, especially with the way we started.”
Chiefs wingers Sitiveni Sivivatu and Lelia Masaga and loosehead prop Sona Taumalolo scored tries, though Stephen Donald missed all three conversions, to give their side a 15-0 lead.
The Reds, however, inspired by Wallaby scrumhalf Will Genia, refused to roll over and responded with a try from winger Will Chambers in the 27th minute, which was converted by Cooper.
Donald finally landed a successful kick after Va’aulu was sin binned for a dangerous tackle on Sivivatu in the 33rd minute before Queensland’s Cooper scored two penalties to drag his side back to 18-13 at the break.
Cooper cut the gap further with his third successful penalty and Morahan gave his side the lead for the first time when he outsprinted the Chiefs’ defenders from 60 metres out to pounce on a speculative downfield kick.
Cooper converted the try and the Reds held on as the two sides bashed away at each other without yielding for the final 10 minutes.
“Outstanding effort from the boys, just really proud. We really dug deep when we were down in the second half,” Genia said.
“A lot of (people) questioned our depth but the young guys really stood up and I’m very happy for the boys.”
Scores:
Reds 23 (Will Chambers, Luke Morahan tries; Quade Cooper 2 conversions, 3 penalties)
Chiefs 18 (Sitiveni Sivivatu, Lelia Masaga, Sano Taumalolo tries; Stephen Donald penalty).
HT: 13-18.
[Reuters]
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