A four-try blitz from winger Lachie Anderson earned him a spot in the record books of the Queensland Reds at a rain-soaked Suncorp Stadium tonight.
Anderson’s rush of tries in the first half were highlights of a strong team display to shut out the Fijian Drua 52-7.
It was a rousing way for the Reds to salute their most loyal fans as the team built winning energy ahead of their Qualifying Final in SMARTECH Super Rugby Pacific.
The fifth-placed Reds are off to Christchurch to face the second-placed Crusaders on Friday night (5:05pm AEST) to open the new six-team finals format.
Anderson has turned himself into a fixture on the wing for the Reds this season with the clinically-efficient finishing he displayed tonight.
He becomes the first Reds player to score four tries in a game since the professional era kicked off in 1996 and joins Joe Roff (1996) and Drew Mitchell (2010) as the only other Aussies to do so.
Not since winger Isei Nasiganiyavi scored five tries against Western Samoa in 1989 has a Queensland player crossed as often in a game.
Reds Head Coach Les Kiss knew the team was locked in for a trip to Christchurch before tonight’s kick-off so he derived satisfaction from his players staying on task.
“It was us continuing to develop the game we are good at. It was pretty complete,” Kiss said.
Skipper Tate McDermott applauded Anderson: "I’ve seen Lachie’s journey from our days playing sevens together and how far he's come. He's shown he's a true, class winger," McDermott said.
"He’s a rock defensively and he's quick.”
Anderson’s opener was a backline gem with impressive flyhalf Tom Lynagh looping around centre Hunter Paisami and dashing into space.
The relay to Jock Campbell was spot-on and the fullback positioned Anderson perfectly for an unopposed run to the corner for No.1 after 11 minutes.
On 17 minutes, Anderson’s low-drive to the line off a Ryan Smith pass was a winger looking for extra work.
On 21 minutes, the Reds opened up the Drua again on the right side to fully capitalised on a Drua back in the sin bin. It was a 19-0 across the 10 minutes with an extra man.
It was four tries in just 36 minutes when Anderson gratefully accepted a perfect cross-kick from Lynagh to build the first half score to 33-0.
Anderson was honoured with the Frank Ivory Medal as the Reds’ best in the Queensland Rugby Union's 14th Indigenous Round.
No player earned a bigger roar than centre Josh Flook when he scooted 25m to score his try just before the hour mark.
Flook added a little fist pump, as well he might. It was a pleasing comeback match of 80 minutes following a long lay-off to repair a hamstring injury.
There were strong performers across the park and the defence always has to measure up to shut down space for the dynamic Fijians.
Lynagh and winger Tim Ryan double-teamed winger Ponipate Loganimasi and drove him over the sideline in the early minutes to show the Reds’ intent.
Lynagh pulled off a fine try-saver on Drua skipper Tevita Ikanivere, who is more than 20kg heavier.
At the 72-minute mark, it still measured up with bench pair Jeffery Toomaga-Allen and Nick Bloomfield driving Peni Ravai back in a powerful tackle that earned a penalty.
Backrowers Fraser McReight, Harry Wilson and Joe Brial had 30 ball carries between them while replacement prop Toomaga-Allen had the silky hands to put Brial over for his late try.
Fullback Campbell threw the final pass for three tries with his timing into the backline.
QUEENSLAND REDS 52
Tries: Lachie Anderson 4, Josh Canham, Filipo Daugunu, Joe Brial, Josh Flook
Conversions: Tom Lynagh 5, Ryan Smith
Defeated
FIJIAN DRUA 7
Try: Haereiti Hetet
Conversion: Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula
Half-time: Reds 33-Drua 0
Venue: Suncorp Stadium
Crowd: 12,834
