The Queensland Reds have made the perfect start to their 2022 Buildcorp Super W campaign with a relentless 43-7 win over the Western Force in Perth.
The Queenslanders ran in seven tries to one in a comprehensive display at HBF Park, with newly minted captain Shannon Parry making her Super W debut in the victory.
Nine players - Alapeta Ngauamo, Tasmin Sheppard, Hana Lane, Sarah Lewis, Skyla Adams, Caity Costello, Ellie Draper, Grace Qaranivalu and Imogen Hei, – made their Queensland and Super W debut, while Nicola Emsley and Renae Nona Parry also made their first appearance in Queensland colours.
After dominating possession and field position early, Queensland opened the scoring with a try to debutant Costello in the 16th minute.
Force backrower Tamika Jones was shown a yellow-card for cynical play in the 30th minute and the Reds quickly capitalised with their second five-pointer of the afternoon. It was 16-year-old Adams who found the line, the flyhalf slicing through the defence with a show and go to score and open up a 12-nil lead at the half-time break.
Draper became the third debutant to score on the stroke of half-time, the fullback crossing off the back of a classy Melanie Wilks pass. Wilks added her second conversion of the night to stretch Queensland’s advantage to 19-nil at the half-time break.
Wong was first to score in the second stanza, the Sunnybank winger dancing her way through three Force defenders from close range to score her side’s fourth try of the match in the 46th minute.
Skipper Parry forced herself over the line for her first Super W try in the 54th minute, the Olympic gold medallist burrowed her way through the defence after a quick tap to score. Wilks again converted to put the score out to 31-nil.
A yellow card to Aleena Greenhalgh reduced the visitors to 14-players in the 60th minute and the Force made the most of their advantage with a try to Tui Cope.
Queensland soon hit back through Hei, who scored her first try in Queensland colours with a dummy and go from close to the line. The Bond University scrumhalf became the fourth debutant of the night to find the line, before Wilks slotted the conversion to make the score 38-7 with six-minutes on the clock.
Hana Lane put the icing on the cake for the Queenslanders soon after, the backrower picking up the scraps of a deft Wilks kick to cross for her side’s seventh five-pointer in the 76th minute, putting the final score out to 43-7.
Queensland return home next round to take on the Fijiana Drua in a huge double-header clash at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday 12 March. Buy tickets via reds.rugby.
Queensland Reds 43
Tries: Costello, Adams, Draper, Wong, Parry, Hei, Lane
Conversions: Wilks 4
Western Force 7
Tries: Cope
Conversions: Fel
