The Queensland Reds have narrowly missed out on a double win in Melbourne, with the Reds men going down to the Melbourne Rebels 40-34 in their Round 5 Super Rugby Pacific fixture after the Reds Women claimed a convincing 43-nil win in their Buildcorp Super W opener.
Four players made their Queensland and Super W debuts in the win – Caitlin Urwin, Deni Ross, Haidee Head, Sam Curtis and Joana Rabaka – while Harry Wilson celebrated his 50th Queensland cap in the men’s fixture as Phransis Sula-Siaosi made his Super Rugby debut.
Reds Women’s captain Shannon Parry claimed the first of her team’s seven-try-haul, crossing in the fifth minute of the match. Inside centre Cecilia Smith was next to score in the 11th minute, followed soon after by Renae Nona.
Smith crossed for her second before half-time and slotted two conversions to give the Reds a 24-nil lead at the break.
Tiarna Molloy scored in the opening exchanges of the second half to further extend the Reds lead, before fullback Ellie Draper dotted down in the 49th minute.
Capped Wallaroo Alana Elisaia came off the bench in the second half and found the line in her return to Super W in the 66th minute to cement Queensland’s win. A further two conversions from Smith saw her notch an individual tally of 18-points and locked in the 43-nil win.
The Reds men followed on from the performance of the women and crossed for the first two tries of their match against the Rebels through Josh Flook and Jordan Petaia. James O’Connor slotted both conversions to put the Reds ahead 14-nil.
The Rebels fired back with for four tries before half-time through Ryan Louwrens, Josh Kemeny, Matt Gibbon and Vaiolini Ekuasi, taking a 26-14 lead and the momentum into the break.
The Reds came out in the second half and crossed for three tries in the opening 13 minutes. Petaia scored his second of the night four minutes into the second half, before Ryan Smith peeled off the back of a rolling maul to dot down in the 50th minute.
A brilliant pass from the base of ruck from Harry Wilson saw Flook secure his double, diving over in the right-hand corner, seeing the Reds take a 31-26 lead.
Joe Pincus crossed for the Rebels in the 56th minute, and the conversion from Carter Gordon put the Rebels back in the lead 33-31.
A successful penalty from O’Connor saw Queensland regain the advantage, but a final converted try from lock Angelo Smith in the 67th minute saw the Rebels hold on to claim the 40-34 win.
Both the Reds men and women return to Suncorp Stadium next Friday 31 March, for a double header which will see the Reds face the Western Force in Super W and the Crusaders in Super Rugby Pacific. Tickets available via https://bit.ly/3JE3d4a.
At AAMI Park, Melbourne, on Saturday 25 March, 2023.
