The Queensland Reds were beaten 39-26 tonight by the ACT Brumbies in their Round Nine clash in SMARTECH Super Rugby Pacific.
The Reds squandered a fast 14-0 lead at Suncorp Stadium with a disappointing performance in the wet.
Reds skipper Tate McDermott appreciated teammates, fans and family celebrating his 100th game for the Reds so warmly.
“I think what it fully means will come a bit later. It’s something I’m extremely proud of but right now I’m disappointed with the result and, moreso, how it happened,” McDermott said.
“I’m still really proud of this team. We just weren’t good enough for long enough.
“You have to give the Brumbies credit. They applied the pressure and came away with points when they entered our 22.
“We’ve got a bye week ahead. We’ll regroup and continue to get better. The competition still has a long way to go and we are sitting pretty well.”
The Reds (23 points) sit fourth behind the third-placed Brumbies (23) on points differential.
The Reds will now build toward’s a massive Anzac Day game on Friday, April 25 against the Blues at Suncorp Stadium.
Last night started with a bang after just five minutes when hooker Matt Faessler put centre Hunter Paisami away with a superb pass. Paisami showed the range of his skills with a chip-and-regather for the first try.
The score was 14-0 when replacement hooker Richie Asiata bumped over for the first of his two tries after the Reds struck swiftly off turnover ball.
The Reds struggled for rhythm for chunks of the game after that.
The Brumbies were highly effective close to the line off lineouts with Wallabies backrower Rob Valetini starting the momentum shift on 22 minutes.
The Reds found themselves down 21-14 at half-time and in need of an immediate jolt.
Asiata’s driving maul try on 46 minutes closed the scores to 21-19 but that was as close as it got as the Brumbies rolling maul generated two key second half tries.
Centre Dre Pakeho did score a deserved try in the final minute. On halfway, replacement fullback Jock Campbell landed a crossfield kick pass into the arms of winger Lachie Anderson.
Anderson was quickly into full stride and fed Pakeho inside for the try. Pakeho and Paisami were two of the Reds' best performers. Pakeho topped the tackle count (11) amongst the backs and delivered another mature display.
The Brumbies retained the Rod Macqueen Cup with the victory.
Late in the game, Jude Gibbs came on as a backline replacement at flyhalf to earn his first cap for Queensland on the same night that McDermott (100), Faessler (50) and prop Zane Nonggorr (50) reached their milestones.
ACT BRUMBIES 39
Tries: Billy Pollard 2, Rob Valetini, Corey Toole, Tuaina Taii Tualima, Allan Alaalatoa
Conversions: Noah Lolesio 3
Penalty goals: Ryan Lonergan
Defeated
QUEENSLAND REDS 26
Tries: Richie Asiata 2, Hunter Paisami, Dre Pakeho
Conversions: Tom Lynagh 2, Jude Gibbs
Half-time: Brumbies 21-Reds 14
Crowd: 12,331
Venue: Suncorp Stadium
