Çongrats you guys sounded like it was a great hit out.
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Daley leads QR Reds to trial win over Crusaders
QR Reds captain Ben Daley scored twice in the opening half
Friday, 29 January 2010
QR Reds captain and loosehead prop Ben Daley scored two tries in the opening half to set up a 20-12 trial win over the Canterbury Crusaders at Ballymore tonight.
Daley capitalised on some strong forward play and some enterprising attack by new fullback Peter Hynes to give the Reds a commanding 17-5 lead at the break in front of a delighted crowd of 5,827.
The 21-year-old law student took his first opportunity when an attacking raid by Hynes and wing Luke Morahan ended just metres from the line, with some strong pick and go work from the forwards ending with Daley crossing the line.
His second came at the end of one of many strong rolling mauls – the Reds almost scored minutes earlier from the same play but an errant last pass from Daniel Braid went into touch.
Daley also played an instrumental role in a dominant Queensland scrum that drew multiple penalties and caused constant pressure.
“I can’t remember the last time I scored two tries. It was quite an experience out there to be on the receiving end of the pats on the back after a try,” Daley said.
“I’m usually the one running in to congratulate blokes, so it was a good feeling.”
Hynes was exceptional in the half he played, making a key contribution with the ball in hand and with the boot with every touch of the ball.
Early in the match the 22 Test Wallaby showed he wasn’t overawed by his potential switch to fullback for this year’s Investec Bank Super 14 competition when he passed his first test with flying colours, recovering a deft grubber kick with centre Ryan Crotty applying a mountain of pressure. It was Crotty who came off worst from the collision, having to be helped from the field after apparently being knocked cold.
“I thought he (Hynes) showed some very bright moments for his first up run,” head coach Ewen McKenzie said.
“He was solid, powerful, took kicks pretty well, and handled the territory side of it pretty well. That was a good thing to come out of the game.”
Playing in his first game of professional rugby Will Chambers received limited opportunities in his 60 minutes on the paddock, while centre partner Anthony Fainga'a backed up last Saturday’s impressive display with another dominant defensive performance.
McKenzie said the experience Chambers gained from the match would help in his transition from rugby league club the Melbourne Storm.
“He had some powerful moments out there but he would be the first to put his hand up and say the instinctive part of the game isn’t there yet. (But) we put him out there and he soldiered away," he said.
McKenzie said he was pleased at having won two successive trials but said the team still had plenty to do before their season opening clash with the Waratahs at Suncorp Stadium on February 13.
“We’re not good enough to be getting ahead of ourselves in terms of what we’re about. There were bits and pieces where we didn’t communicate well, run the right lines, and where we covered the wrong spaces.
“But that’s what you want to learn in trials. The good thing was that in the contact exchanges we were physical, we got stuck in and forced errors.
“We had our moments at scrum time, we were good at lineouts, and we did some good mauling."
Daley said the team could take many positives from the clash as they prepare to head to Perth to face the Western Force in their final trial.
“It was a very physical game, the Crusaders are a great side. They had some quality players out there across the park and it was a good test for us,” he said.
“There were some good points, but obviously it is a trial game and there’s things that we need to look at the visual and go back and work on to get ready for next week.”
Flyhalf Ben Lucas added seven points and Tim Walsh three in a perfect night for both with the boot, while the Crusaders crossed the line through number eight Thomas Waldrom and centre Robert Fruean.
QR Reds 20 (Ben Daley 2 tries, Ben Lucas 2 cons, Ben Lucas, Tim Walsh pens) def Crusaders 12 (Thomas Waldrom, Robert Fruean tries, Colin Slade con)
Crowd: 5,827