A courageous Queensland Reds women's team has been pipped 21-17 in the final minutes in a dramatic conclusion to today's visit to Perth.
The Reds held a 17-7 half-time lead and a 17-14 advantage entering the final two minutes before the match was snatched by a late try from Western Force replacement Ai Dickson.
It was a tough ending to swallow for the Reds who had tackled so well and backed a shrewd kicking strategy that worked well for the first half of the Swyftx Super Rugby Women's clash.
Coupled with their last-minute loss to the ACT Brumbies in the opening round, the Reds must now dig even deeper to stay alive in the competition by beating the Fijian Drua when they visit Ballymore Stadium next Saturday afternoon.
"We are all hurting with that tough loss. We built the right platform but didn't capitalise," Reds Head Coach Andrew Fraser said.
"As a coaching group, we have to wear that result and find the improvements we needed.
"It throws us into some do-or-die matches over the next two weeks and we'll be ready for them."
The Reds lost three of their own lineouts in the first half but it was being aware and adaptable which generated an excellent first try to peg back a 7-0 deficit.
At the eight-minute mark, hooker Roni Setu connected with flanker Zoe Hanna on the 5m line at the front of the lineout and quickly received the ball back. She bullocked over out wide.
The Reds were ahead 10-7 on 24 minutes when the Reds capitalise on good pressure and playing under advantage. Fullback Lori Cramer was at first receiver to dab a kick pass to young winger Aroha Spillane.
Spillane kept her feet well when the Force cover defence came at her and planted the ball for her first try as a Red.
At the 35-minute mark, the Reds took a tap penalty. After a sustained series of pick-and-goes, No.8 Tiarna Molloy surged over for 17-7.
Throughout the first half, the Reds hustled on the back of some smart kicking for territory by fullback Cramer. The effectiveness of flyhalf Harmony Vatau, Setu, skipper Jemma Bemrose and others with their tackling kept the pressure applied.
Prop Tanya Kalounivale took on a major workload with her short, rumbling charges while lock Vineta Teutau, Vatau and others kept the Reds going forward. Lock Lucy Thorpe was industrious and Molloy kept stepping up for ball-carries into the teeth of the defence.
With the Force opening the second half with a rush of sloppy errors, the Reds had a big opportunity when the Force lost centre Trilleen Pomare to a yellow card for a lifting tackle on Bemrose after nearly an hour.
The Reds were far less effective after half-time and couldn't capitalise with 15-on-14. The plucky Force hung tough and their grind paid off with a try to Wallaroos stalwart Michaela Leonard.
With the scores at 17-14, the Reds produced a series of clutch plays. Replacement halfback Evie Sampson grabbed a loose ball in a tackle, Vatau banged a 35m clearing kick from her own line and the Reds forced a scrum by holding up the Force metres short of the tryline.
At the death, the Force put together one of their few backline moves of the afternoon to put Dickson over in the corner.
The Reds had time to take a final re-start and were gifted a possible chance when the Force hacked the ball into touch believing time was up. There were seconds still to play but no miracle could be conjured.
Vatau had a strong game with her late switch to No.10, Cramer's poise was always an asset and the team took a clear step up from the Brumbies match. There was a debut over the final 16 minutes for 18-year-old flyhalf Charity Wightman-Beaven, who is hopefully at the start of a long career.
WESTERN FORCE 21
Tries: Here-Barb Malcolm Heke, Michaela Leonard, Ai Dickson
Conversions: Samantha Wood 3
Def
QUEENSLAND REDS 17
Tries: Roni Setu, Aroha Spillane, Tiarna Molloy
Conversions: Lori Cramer
Half-time: Reds 17-Force 7
Venue: Wanneroo Rugby Club, Perth
