The Queensland Reds have extended their unbeaten streak against the Melbourne Rebels to seven games with a 36-32 win at AAMI Park.
Queensland scored five tries to four in a seesawing affair, with the Reds holding off a late comeback from the home side in Melbourne.
20-year-old lock Lopeti Faifua made his Queensland and Super Rugby debut in the win, while Connor Vest and Lawson Creighton both crossed for their maiden Super Rugby tries.
Vest gave Queensland the perfect start to the match with an aerial effort to snatch a towering James O’Connor kick-off, before O’Connor slotted a penalty goal in the ensuing phases to open up a 3-nil lead.
O’Connor sparked the Reds’ first try of the night in the 16th minute with a deft grubber kick through the line to find Hunter Paisami, who linked with Vest on his outside. The backrower outpaced the chasing defence from 20-metres out to score and extend the Queensland advantage to 10-nil.
A Matt To’omua penalty cut the Rebels’ deficit to 10-3, but Queensland bounced back quickly with a Tate McDermott try. Fraser McReight and Harry Wilson started the counterattacking sequence well within the Queensland half, before McDermott raced 50-metres for his second five-pointer of 2022.
Filipo Daugunu was shown a yellow card in the 30th minute and the Rebels quickly capitalised with a Richard Hardwick try to bring the score to 17-10.
With the Rebels on the attack, it was Lawson Creighton who stopped the hosts’ momentum, the interchange fullback snatching a loose pass and streaking 70-metres to score his first try in maroon. O’Connor continued his perfect night with the boot to extend Queensland’s lead to 24-10 in the 37th minute.
The home side again hit back, a James Hanson rolling maul try on the stroke of half-time, bringing the scores to 24-15 at the break.
A Reece Hodge penalty brought the Rebels within six-points with 30-minutes to play, before the hosts hit the lead for the first time of the night courtesy of a Matt Philip try in the 64th minute.
Taniela Tupou quickly scored to regain the Queensland lead, charging onto a McDermott short ball from close to the line. O’Connor converted to make the score to 31-25.
Josh Flook finished off another piece of Reds counterattack to put the score out to 36-25 minutes after, a stunning McReight long ball sending the winger into space and off to the try line from within his own half.
A try to Cabous Eloff set up a thrilling final five-minutes at 36-32, but Queensland were able to hold on to claim a four-point win.
The Reds are back in Melbourne next round to take on the Hurricanes in Super Rugby Pacific’s inaugural Super Round at AAMI Park.
Queensland Reds 36
Tries: Vest, McDermott, Creighton, Tupou, Flook
Conversions: O’Connor 4
Penalties: O’Connor
Melbourne Rebels 32
Tries: Hardwick, Hanson, Philip, Eloff
Conversions: To’omua 3
Penalties: To’omua, Hodge
