A try to skipper Jemma Bemrose on full-time won the Queensland Reds a 29-27 thriller in their Super Rugby Women’s trial at Ballymore Stadium today.
The Fijian Drua had led 27-5 at half-time and for every minute of the match until the final show of poise from the Reds when it most mattered.
The performance was a huge confidence-booster heading into next Sunday’s opening round against the ACT Brumbies at the same venue in Swyftx Super Rugby Women’s.
Winger Piper Flynn scored a classy hat-trick of tries as the Reds built momentum against a tough opponent with a clear size advantage.
“To finish like that in the second half definitely gives us confidence going into Round One at home here at Ballymore,” Bemrose said.
“We said at half-time that we had to trust each other and better build our phases because the tries we were conceding were off the back end of our errors.”
The Reds also took advantage of the wind in the second half, with smarter kicking, to play far more rugby at the Fijian end of the field.
There were standouts in big moments and also for the sharp little things that glue a rally together like the 24-0 fightback in the second half.
New Wallaroos centre Ava Wereta was all class. She made a try-saving tackle around the bootlaces early when the Drua were on full attack, she jackalled, she timed her passes well and organised.
Flanker Bemrose was all go. Her leg drive to keep driving forward on her runs stood out.
The experienced Lori Cramer at fullback slipped into first receiver at times to share distribution duties with flyhalf Akira Kelly. Cramer threw the final pass for two of the Flynn tries and Kelly always passed smoothly.
Just as happened in Canberra a fortnight ago, the Reds got a huge lift from the bench.
Replacement winger Aroha Spillane flashed down the touchline to score a fine try to tighten the scores to 27-17 at the 52-minute mark. Replacement halfback Evie Sampson was all spark and effort.
Replacement prop Hayley Glass pulled off one of the front-on tackles of the match, prop Jordan Neal made some strong charges and Wallaroos prop Eva Karpani rumbled error-free in typical style.
A mention has been saved for utility back Kaelyn Passi.
The Reds had already turned over the ball three times in the tense final minutes to make it do-or-die on the last play. Her perfect left-to-right long ball hit Bemrose like a bullseye for try time.
It was a touch of class taught in sevens just as Flynn used her season in the winning Next Gen Sevens squad to sharpen her skills.
“Playing sevens really helped me. I got to play more footy but it built my confidence to back myself,” Flynn said.
The try of the match arrived on 69 minutes when the Reds sent the ball wide and flanker Zoe Hanna executed a pinpoint switch play with Flynn.
Flynn beat one defender and then dashed 50m for the try that closed the scores to 27-24.
Reds Head Coach Andrew Fraser was smiling.
“One of our team values is resilience and you saw it today in full effect,” Fraser said.
“There are still plenty of things we’ll take away as learnings for the Brumbies match.
“What our bench can deliver stood out again and you are seeing the depth in the squad through that.”
QUEENSLAND REDS 29
Tries: Piper Flynn 3, Jemma Bemrose, Aroha Spillane
Conversions: Lori Cramer 2
Def
FIJIAN DRUA 27
