The Queensland Reds cemented their Super 14 semifinal credentials with a 19-12 victory over defending champions the Bulls in a tense match in Brisbane on Saturday.
The Reds, in fourth place on 30 points, exploited a tiring Bulls pack in the second half after both sides had embarked on an intense and high-tempo game plan from the outset.
The home side scored two tries, both from turnovers, by blindside flanker Scott Higginbotham and winger Rod Davies while Quade Cooper slotted three penalties.
The Reds then produced a superb defensive effort in the final 10 minutes after Bulls replacement Pedrie Wannenburg had grabbed a try to give the South Africans a sniff of victory.
“Outstanding effort. We spoke about application, effort and attitude before the game and we came out and did all those things,” Reds captain Will Genia said in a television interview.
“We [have learnt] how to win tight games and how to stay in the contest and we definitely did that.”
The Reds dominated the opening exchanges but Bulls flanker Derick Kuun opened the scoring with a try in the fifth minute after the visitors counter-attacked from deep inside their own half.
Speculative kick
Morne Steyn added the conversion before the home side got on the board when Higginbotham outsprinted two Bulls backs to Genia’s long-range speculative kick that rolled into open space close to the line.
Cooper missed the conversion but added a penalty to send the home side into the break with an 8-7 lead, after Steyn had missed a kickable penalty as the halftime hooter sounded.
Flyhalf Cooper added two penalties early in the second half before Davies finished a sweeping backline movement from 60 metres out after the Reds had stolen the ball from a Bulls lineout.
The Bulls, however, found a second wind as they emptied their bench and replacement Wannenburg gave his side hope when he pounced on untidy ball from a Reds defensive scrum to make the score 19-12 with less than 10 minutes remaining.
“It was a great game, both teams carried the ball quite a bit and they kept it very well and we couldn’t get our hands on it,” Bulls captain Victor Matfield said.
“They built phases and really tested our defence … well done to them, they played well.” – Reuters