After a thumping from the Tahs last week, and the fact they were in front of their home crowd for the first time this season, the Reds were keen to put on a show.
The Reds came out firing, after a lovely clearance kick from Mike Harris the Reds pulled a cracking set piece move from the line out the Reds were in with Chris Feauai-Sautia putting it down on the end. In the Process Ryno Benjamin used his foot in an attempt to stop the try and earned a yellow for his efforts. The Ref deemed it a penalty try, Quade making the conversion from right in front.
In a show of disgust at losing one of their herd of Rynos, the Cheetahs hit straight back. Charging down a slow Genia box kick, le Roux regathered and the Cheetahs sent the ball wide, eventually finding an un-marked Venter who got the try. Johan Goosen added the extras.
A centre field scrum for the Reds had them lined up for a cracking worked move. A terrible Quade cooper pass resulted in Boom Prinsloo touching down under the posts giving Goosen no trouble with the conversion.
Unhappy with being behind, the Reds turned it on and Rocket Rod was put in by Mike Harris. Quade threaded the posts to put the extras on and we were at 14 all with only 13 minutes on the clock.
Just to try something different, the Cheetahs took a penalty from 52 metres out. Distance wasn’t a problem, but it was pushed to the side. The Reds earned a penalty shortly after and Quade lined up, This one was successful. Spurred on by this development, the Cheetahs earned a penalty near the halfway and Johan stepped up again, this time slotting it the score was now 17 all.
The Reds had one more crack at a penalty, but Quade pushed it wide. Shortly after they were awarded a penalty in the centre of the field around the 22 when instead of taking the kick, Willy G took the quick tap and it was sent wide to Feauai-Sautia who still had some work to do, but got the ball down eventually to finally get a try to his name. Quade missed the conversion and the score was 22-17.
The Hooter went and just when you though this frenetic half of footy was over, no-one told the Reds. In a moment that looked like it was going to be another Yakkity Sacks moment, a Quade pass to no-one was collected by Chibba Hanson who got through a couple to put it down in the corner for the Reds bonus point. Quade got the conversion, skimming the post on the way through. The teams went to the sheds 29-20 for a breather.
After a rather subdued start, well comparatively from the first half, the Cheetahs were first to score. Johan Goosen becoming the highest point scorer in Cheetahs history when he kicked a penalty to make the score 29-23.
A passage of patient play from the Reds, stringing what felt like the first multi-phased play, they built pressure until Quade let loose with a grubber through the line which was picked up by Chris Feauai-Sautia and put down nicely. The ref sent it upstairs, but I think that was just so he could watch the replay a couple of times as it was awarded. Quade missed the conversion but the score was now 34-23.
The Reds were awarded a penalty right in front and opted to go the sticks. Quade, who was equal with Elton flatly on the Reds leading points scorer list, with only Noddy Lynagh ahead of him. He slotted it without issue.
The Cheetahs weren’t out of it yet though, they kept on coming until a dart by Sarel Pretorious got him over the line and a missed forward pass to Elgar Watts got them their third try, which Watts converted to get them into bonus point territory with the score at 40-33.
A scrum penalty on the final hooter to the Reds gave them the opportunity to deny the Cheetahs a bonus point for finishing within 7. Quade Cooper kicked it and the game ended 43-33 to the home side.
What a bizarre game of rugby.
[one_third last=”no”]
The Game Changer
With no team seeming to want to make a tackle, and nothing but loose rugby on display I refuse to nominate a game change, it was the same from start to finish.
[/one_third]
[one_third last=”no”]
The G&GR MOTM
I’m going to nominate Chris Feauia-Sautia whose two and a half try haul allowed me to learn how to spell his name without looking.
[/one_third]
[one_third last=”yes”]
Wallaby watch
With Will Genia doing his best to show why Nick White or Luke Burgess should line up against the French, it was left to Chris Feauai-Sautia to put his finishing prowess on display.
[/one_third]
The Details
Score & Scorers
[one_half last=”no”]QUEENSLAND REDS 43
Tries: Penalty Try (Feauai-Sautia), Davies, Feauai-Sautia, hanson, Feauai-Sautia
Conversions: Cooper 3/5
Penalties: Cooper 4/5[/one_half]
[one_half last=”yes”]CHEETAHS 33
Tries: Venter, Prinsloo, Watts
Conversions: Goosen 2/2, Watts 1/1
Penalties: Goosen 4/5
[/one_half]
Cards & Citings
Yellow Card: Ryno Benjamin
Crowd
27 760 at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
