The Reds secured their first ever victory over the Brumbies at Suncorp Stadium in Super Rugby when they beat the men from Canberra 20-13 in Brisbane.

Victory for the Reds ends a three match losing streak in which they conceded over 160 points to the Sharks, Bulls and the Force.

The result is crucial for Super Rugby's reigning champions the Reds as they overtook the Waratahs and the Rebels and now trail the Brumbies by two points.

If the Brumbies slip up the Reds are now perfectly positioned to take control of the Australian Conference with the worst part of the travel behind them.

The Reds have the bye next weekend so they are gauranteed four points and are sure to get a few players back from injury but Digby Ioane is only due back in three weeks.

Quade Cooper is getting nearer to making his comeback and was moving around as water boy in the match with no visible discomfort.

Loose forward Scott Higginbotham scored a pair of first-half tries off Brumbies errors as the Reds showed glimpses of their old form.

The Reds looked to be in control as they led 17-0 after 50 minutes, but visibly tired as the Brumbies stormed back with 13 unanswered points.

Number eight Scott Higginbotham was outstanding for the Reds, scoring two tries in the first half, while debutant flyhalf Sam Lane kicked two conversions and two penalty goals to recover from a nervous start.

Although there were glimpses of past form on the whole the Reds looked a shadow of the side that beat the Crusaders in last year's Super Rugby final as they shelved their normally expansive attacking game to rely on tactical kicking from Lane and scrumhalf Will Genia.

It worked well in the first half but the Brumbies were able to counter in the second against the tiring Reds defence, who missed 27 tackles, most of those in the second period.

The Reds dominated possession early but their stuttering attack was unable to put any pressure on the Brumbies' defence.

Lane had two early penalty chances but missed them both, the second from right in front only 25 metres out.

But when the Reds finally got a chance to scored points in the 23rd minute they took the chance with style.

Brumbies fullback Jesse Mogg lost the ball in a tackle and Reds winger Rod Davies snapped it up and passed to centre Ben Tapuai, who slipped an inside ball for Higginbotham to crash over in the corner.

Lane converted from the sideline, then set up Higginbotham's second try only minutes later, chipping ahead for Davies, who fed the big number eight for a try under the posts and a 14-0 lead.

The Reds went further ahead 10 minutes after the restart when Brumbies prop Dan Palmer was penalised for punching Reds prop Ben Daley and Lane calmly slotted from 30 metres out.

The Brumbies finally got on the board in the 56th minute with the first of two Christian Lealiifano penalties, the second of which saw Reds flanker Liam Gill yellow carded for a professional foul.

The visitors capitalised on the extra man when Joseph Tomane shrugged off three Reds defenders to stroll over in the corner.

Lealiifano reduced the arrears to 17-13 with 10 minutes left.

But a last-minute penalty to Lane put the game beyond doubt, to the delight of almost 31,500 Reds fans.

The Brumbies scored all of their points in the 10 minutes that Reds teenage flanker Liam Gill was in the sin-bin after receiving a yellow card for cynical play.

Final Score Reds 20 (14) Brumbies 13 (0)

Scorers

Reds
Tries - S Higginbotham 2
Pen - S Lane 2
Con - S Lane 2
Drop -
Cards - L Gill (yellow 60th min)

Brumbies
Tries - J Tomane
Pen - C Lealiifano 2
Con - C Lealiifano
Drop -
Cards -

Match Officials
Referee: Steve Walsh
Assistant Ref 1:Angus Gardner
Assistant Ref 2:Rohan Hoffman
TMO: Steve Leszczynski

Teams

Reds

1. Ben Daley, 2. James Hanson, 3. James Slipper, 4. Rob Simmons, 5. James Horwill (c), 6. Beau Robinson, 7. Liam Gill, 8. Scott Higginbotham, 9. Will Genia (vc), 10. Sam Lane, 11. Rod Davies, 12. Ben Tapuai, 13. Aidan Toua, 14. Dom Shipperley, 15. Luke Morahan.

Reserves: 16. Albert Anae, 17. Greg Holmes, 18. Radike Samo, 19. Van Humphries, 20. Eddie Quirk, 21. Nick Frisby, 22. Dallan Murphy.

Brumbies

1. Ben Alexander,2. Stephen Moore,3. Dan Palmer,4. Leon Power,5. Sam Carter,6. Peter Kimlin,7. Ita Vaea,8. Ben Mowen,9. Nic White,10. Christian Lealiifano,11. Joe Tomane,12. Pat McCabe,13. Andrew Smith,14. Henry Speight,15. Jesse Mogg,

Replacements:16. Anthony Hegarty,17. Ruaidhri Murphy,18. Scott Fardy,19. Michael Hooper,20. Ian Prior,21. Zack Holmes,22. Tevita Kuridrani