The QAS Reds 2nd XV let in a late try to the Junior Waratahs in a heated affair at Ballymore to go down 18-14.
The match was marred by a wealth of penalties against both teams at the breakdown and ended with three players receiving yellow cards - Reds 2nd XV prop Albert Anae and Waratahs prop Jeremy Tilse were sent from the field for a small melee in the final minute, while Waratahs lock Dylan Sigg was given his marching orders just minutes early for a professional foul.
Queensland held the lead 14-11 midway through the second half when flyhalf Tim Walsh kicked his second penalty goal of the match, but former QAS Reds Academy member Brendan McKibbin responded with the game winning try for the Junior Waratahs in the concluding stages.
The Reds 2nd XV threw everything at their opponents in the dying stages and could have scored the go-ahead try but a pass from Richard Kingi to an unmarked Blair Connor just metres from the line flew over the wingers head.
Reds 2nd XV coach Paul Carozza said his side failed to adapt to the ‘stop-start’ and slow nature of the game that eventuated with both teams heavily penalised at the breakdown.
“We made a lot of mistakes and the stop-start nature wasn’t what we wanted. We wanted to play a more up-tempo game,” Carozza said.
“(But) there were opportunities in the last 10 minutes that we should have made more of and you need to capitalise on chances like that.”
Carozza said the physical hitout would put the team in good stead ahead of their rematch in Sydney on March 7 after having previously playing in three one-sided victories over Argentina’s Club Atletico San Isidro (90-10), Queensland’s Premier XV (48-7) and the Australian Barbarians (59-7).
“It was definitely good to have a much more physical contest and a challenging game. And the good news is we get to play them again,” he said.
Both teams scored a try in the opening half and kicked a penalty goal to see the scores locked 8-all at halftime.
Queensland’s try came from centre Brando Va’aulu following a pinpoint long ball from Lucas close to the line.
The Reds 2nd XV reshuffled their backline to begin the second half with Lucas moving to scrumhalf, Tim Walsh to flyhalf, Richard Kingi to fullback and Aidan Toua to the wing.
Kingi and Walsh were strong backing up their efforts in Saturday night’s QR Reds and Blues game, while Lucas was impressive in both playmaking positions.
However they couldn’t convert any of their opportunities to tries and McKibbin made them pay with his late try.
Junior Waratahs 18 (Paddy Ryan, Brendan McKibbin tries, Brendan McKibbin 2 pens, con) def QAS Reds 2nd XV 14 (Brando Va’aulu try, Tim Walsh 2, Ben Lucas pens)