St.George Queensland Reds beat Cheetahs at Suncorp Stadium
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The St.George Queensland Reds have posted their second win of the Asteron Life Super Rugby season with a 30-17 triumph against the Cheetahs at Suncorp Stadium.
Queensland showed it had learned from its tour to South Africa, closing the match out with a more composed final 20 minutes.
It was at times an ugly game, but a gutsy one for the Reds who were reduced to 14 men twice during the match when Anthony Fainga’a and Liam Gill earned yellow cards.
Reds co-interim head coach Nick Stiles said: “We showed a lot of growth tonight, to regain the lead, build continuity, manage the game and close it out well.
“Probably the most pleasing thing about tonight was the work ethic and determination from the guys. We’re pleased with the win and to see the guys grow from week to week.”
Territory belonged to the Cheetahs after both teams traded penalties in the first six minutes.
The visiting South Africans buried themselves deep in the Reds half for much of the early action and only a dominant Queensland scrum repeatedly got them out of trouble.
Nine handling errors combined with 11 turnovers stifled the Reds momentum in an error ridden first half from both sides.
Centre Anthony Fainga’a’s bone crunching defence was one of the highlights, yet he was marched for 10 minutes after receiving a yellow card for a shoulder charge.
The Cheetahs struck while the inside centre was sidelined, catching the Reds out to score from close range.
The Reds struck back with their biggest strike weapon, the scrum, to close out the half.
It was the Cheetahs’ feed on their own five-metre line, but the Reds forced a turnover and Number 8 Curtis Browning landed the crucial blow when he galloped off the back of the scrum to help level the halftime score at 10-10.
When they did click, the Reds backline mesmerised the Cheetahs’ defence.
A sweeping exchange of pinpoint passes and direct running lines put Samu Kerevi outside his man and on a charge downfield. He handled twice in the movement, which also featured winger Eto Nabuli, before halfback Nick Frisby finished off with a try in the corner.
Their lead, extended a fraction by a Jake McIntyre penalty, was not yet a commanding one as the Reds entered the final 20 minutes needing a knockout punch to finish the Cheetahs.
Queensland did exactly that when Frisby scored his second on the end of a slick team build-up.
A hand injury to Kerevi was the main concern as the game-breaker spent the last 14 minutes on the bench.
The Reds suffered their second yellow card in the final 10 minutes, but managed to control the final stages of the game despite the absence of one of their better players in Gill.
The Reds head to Christchurch next week to take on the Crusaders.
St.GEORGE QUEENSLAND REDS 30 (Nick Frisby 2, Curtis Browning tries; Jake McIntyre 3 conversions, 3 penalties) d CHEETAHS 17 (Uzair Cassiem, Raymond Rhule tries; Fred Zeilinga 2 conversions, penalty)
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