The Queensland Reds have held off a flying Fijian comeback to win a thrilling 33-28 win in the closing minutes at Suncorp Stadium.
The Fijian Drua, Super Rugby Pacific’s newest team, had Reds’ fans on the edge of their seats, running in three tries in the final 15-minutes to comeback from 28-9 down.
The scores were 28-all when flanker Seru Uru made two huge plays in the final stages of the match. In the 78th minute, the backrower scored a try out wide to regain the lead at 33-28. A lineout steal eight metres from his own try line sealed the game on full-time.
University of Queensland lock Connor Vest became the 1369th player to represent Queensland as the Reds secured their fourth consecutive win in Queensland Rugby Union’s inaugural Pasifika Round.
One of the most exciting games of the season began with winger Josh Flook showcasing his speed and urgency by sprinting 70m to make a heroic try-saving tackle on Fijian Drua centre Kalaveti Ravouvou.
The Reds struck first with a spectacular 55 metre solo try from fullback Jordan Petaia, giving Queensland a 5-nil lead in the fifth minute.
Following exhilarating end-to-end footy, number eight Harry Wilson extended the lead to 12-3 after bulldozing his way through Teti Tela and Baden Kerr in the 23rd minute.
The men in maroon held strong when down to 13 men with Josh Nasser and Harry Hoopert yellow carded, Wilson making a timely try-saver on Drua winger Vinaya Habosi on the try line in the minutes following.
Nasser made it 23-9 at the back of a rolling maul in the 58th minute.
The hooker scored his second try in the 64th minute, denying a leg cramp to streak away and score following some slick hands by the Queenslanders, extending their lead to 28-9.
Tries from Onisi Ratave, reserve Joseva Tamani and Vinaya Habosi in a late game surge from the Drua saw the visitors equal it at 28-all in the 72nd minute.
With the game on the line, Queensland went back on the attack and it was Uru who landed the knockout punch, the back rower diving over to score and give his side a slender five-point win.
The home side held strong as the Drua attacked in the final minutes, Uru snatching a lineout to seal a memorable 33-28 victory in front of a crowd of 11,856.
Queensland are away in Round 5 against the Brumbies, before returning home to host the New South Wales Waratahs at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday 26 March - tickets available via reds.rugby
Queensland Reds 33
Tries: Nasser 2, Petaia, Wilson, Uru
Conversions: O’Connor
Penalties: O’Connor 2
Fijian Drua 28
Tries: Ratave, Tamani, Habosi
Conversions: Tela 2
Penalties: Tela 3
