The Queensland Reds have suffered a last-gasp 41-34 loss at Suncorp Stadium yet uncovered a gem with young winger Tim Ryan scoring three tries.
The Reds led the Blues 31-20 in the 64th minute when the 20-year-old flyer completed his stunning hat-trick in his first run-on role in Super Rugby Pacific on Saturday night.
The Auckland-based Blues persevered with a late fightback until replacement halfback Sam Nock scored in the 82nd minute to snatch a dramatic win
The culmination of Anzac Weekend Round was a superb 11-try spectacle that brought out the best in both sides.
Ryan, 20, scored his hat-trick of tries across just 14 minutes in the second half. He had made two cameos off the bench this season but his first run-on role brought a cheering home crowd of 16,325 to their feet.
Only Rod Davies, Eto Nabuli and Alex Mafi have previously score hat-tricks for the Reds across the 28 years of Super Rugby in the professional era.
The 2023 Junior Wallaby dashed over from halfway for his first after centre Hunter Paisami had done the lead-up work with a clever chip kick-and-regather.
The score gave the Reds the lead at 19-13 for the first time in the match because it followed a Suliasi Vunivalu pick-and-go try to finish off sustained pressure.
The Ryan try on the hour mark was a beauty from a precise set play off a Liam Wright lineout win.
Replacement halfback Louis Werchon snapped a long pass to centre Josh Flook, who dished off a short pass to Lawson Creighton, who sent the final ball to Ryan for the try.
The 24-20 lead was built into 31-20 with a classic from Ryan. Werchon dashed the blindside from a scrum and positioned Ryan on the left sideline.
The winger jumped to avoid some fallen bodies, stepped off his right foot from a virtual standing start and scooted clear. A left-foot swerve shed the final Blues defender for an excellent try and 31-20.
Three Blues tries in the final stages showed the resilience of the competition’s second-placed team while the Reds showed they could keep pace all the way.
Skipper Liam Wright (23 tackles), lock Ryan Smith (23) and No.8 Harry Wilson (21) led the defence.
“We’re gutted,” captain Liam Wright said.
“Absolutely, there is belief in this team that we’ll keep getting better and learn to close out those games.
“Tim Ryan was the epitomy of stepping up the job and going beyond from the youth in our side.”
Added Reds coach Les Kiss: “I’m super proud of that effort and want us to stay rock solid on the things that are working for us. That’s what we will take confidence from and our growth areas in every game.
“Tim has that young vigour. He trains like that all the time and, from the first days I watched him, he’s a winger who doesn’t run out.”
The Blues had jumped to an early 10-0 lead before the Reds closed the gap to 13-7 by half-time through a pick-and-drive to prop Jeffery Toomaga-Allen.
Blues coach Vern Cotter gave strong praise to the “excellent” Anzac service staged before kick-off with the two sides.
“The ceremony was outstanding. Both sides respected the occasion and you saw that in the quality of the game,” Cotter said.
“There is a long history between our clubs and I do see the case to make this match a part of the Anzac Weekend Round each season to keep building the links to more people off the field as well.”
The sixth-placed Reds head to Christchurch to play the Crusaders next Saturday in Round 11.
BLUES 41
Tries: Patrick Tuipulotu, Cole Forbes, Angus Ta’avao, Hoskins Sotutu, Kurt Eklund, Sam Nock, Conversions: Harry Plummer 4,Penalty Goal: Harry Plummer
Defeated
QUEENSLAND REDS 34
Tries: Tim Ryan 3, Suliasi Vunivalu, Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, Conversions: Tom Lynagh 2, Lawson Creighton, Penalty Goals: Lawson Creighton
Half-time: Blues 13-Reds 7 Crowd: 16,325 At Suncorp Stadium
