The New South Wales Waratahs have reclaimed the Bob Templeton Cup, defeating the Queensland Reds 32-24 at Queensland Country Bank Stadium in Townsville.
Locked at 17-all at half-time, the Tahs outscored the Reds four tries to three to break a four-game losing streak against Queensland and regain the Cup for the first time since 2021.
Angus Blyth celebrated his 50th Queensland cap in the loss, with Matt Faessler, Suliasi Vunivalu and Peni Ravai crossing for the Reds.
Both hookers traded rolling maul tries in the opening 15-minutes, Dave Porecki (Waratahs) and Faessler (Reds) the beneficiaries of dominant set-piece plays. Kickers Ben Donaldson and Lawson Creighton both converted to lock the scores at 7-all after 13-minutes of play.
Waratahs backrower Taleni Seu was next to score for the visitors before Lawson Creighton cut the Queensland deficit to 14-10 with a penalty goal in the 25th minute.
Queensland claimed their first lead of the night in the 33rd minute, Vunivalu burrowing his way over after a glut of phases on the Waratahs line. Creighton’s conversion kicked the Reds into a 17-14 advantage.
Donaldson evened the ledger with a penalty goal of his own on the stroke of half-time, the sides heading to the sheds at 17-all.
The Tahs kicked off the second-half scoring with a long-range Lalakai Foketi try in the 45th minute, before a Harry Johnson-Holmes pick and drive saw the visitors extend their advantage to 29-17 with 20-minutes to play.
Donaldson kicked the Waratahs further ahead with his second penalty in the 76th minute, giving the visitors a lead of 32-17.
Ravai crossed for his first Queensland and Super Rugby Pacific try in the final seconds, but it was merely consolation, the score finishing 32-24 in favour of the Waratahs.
Queensland travel to New Plymouth next round to take on the ladder-leading Chiefs in Round 12.
At Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville, on Saturday 6 May, 2023.
