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Reds hit 13-year Super high despite Wallaby's late withdrawl
By AAP
Queensland Reds have soared to top spot on the Super Rugby Pacific ladder for the first time in 13 years after overcoming a horror night in lineouts to post a pulsating 28-24 win over the Western Force in Brisbane.
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The odds were stacked against the Reds after flanker John Bryant was yellow-carded in the 68th minute for a dangerous clean-out with the visitors leading by three points.
Despite the numerical disadvantage, Reds scrumhalf Tate McDermott touched down in the 73rd minute in what ended up being the match-winning moment.
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Incredibly, it was the second time the Reds have beaten the Force by a 28-24 scoreline this month after Filipo Daugunu’s late match-winner in Perth on March 1.
It lifted the Reds into top spot for the first time since 2012, following the Crusaders’ shock 45-29 loss to Moana Pasifika in Christchurch earlier on Saturday.
Their clash with the Chiefs next Friday night in New Zealand will be a top-of-the-table battle.
Victory came despite the Reds losing a whopping eight lineouts from their own throw during the game as Force duo Darcy Swain and Jeremy Williams wrought havoc.
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“We had to work for it, but the boys have ticker,” Reds coach Les Kiss told Stan.
“I think the boys really turned up and showed their real heart. I feel just a sense of pride.
“Our lineout didn’t quite work tonight, that’s for sure, and it kept putting us under pressure.
“But our scrum worked, and other parts of our game worked well.”
Heavy downpours in Brisbane led many to predict a scrappy battle at Suncorp Stadium.
But with the rain clearing up before kick-off, both sides scored three tries apiece in an action-packed opening half, with the scores locked at 21-21 at the break.
Reds outside centre Daugunu squeezed over for the first try of the night, but the Force hit back in the most unlikely fashion when prop Tom Robertson sprinted 45m for a breakaway try.
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The Reds’ lineout was a horror show, with the Force stealing five throws in the first half alone.
But one of Queensland’s disastrous throws ended up turning to gold, with Tom Lynagh cleaning up an overthrow and beating two defenders before flicking a clever pass to Dre Pakeho for the try.
Either side of that it was the Carlo Tizzano show, with the star Force flanker scoring his ninth and 10th tries of the season to keep the scoreboard close.
The Force edged out to a 24-21 lead courtesy of Ben Donaldson’s penalty in the 58th minute, and the Reds were dealt a huge blow 10 minutes later when Bryant was yellow=carded for lifting and tipping Tizzano over.
But when the Reds finally nailed a lineout it produced good results, with a rolling maul and a quick take from McDermott resulting in a try.
“It’s pretty tough,” Force captain Williams said of the loss.
“I was really happy with basically the whole game. We stayed in the fight a lot.
“But to go down by four points is pretty disappointing.”
The Reds were dealt a blow before the game when Hunter Paisami was ruled out with a broken nose.
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