Queensland’s Reds earned their third straight Super Rugby victory over the Brumbies in Brisbane with a 31-14 at Suncorp Stadium on Sunday.
The match was played at 33°c, and the Reds victory means that Canberra’s Brumbies have not won in Brisbane since March 2015.
Due to the heat in the stadium, the game was paused twice to allow the players to take on water.
The Reds outscored the Brumbies by five tries to two, so the Queensland side earns five points in the standings from the result.
Video Highlights: Reds versus Brumbies
Scott Higginbotham opened the scoring in the 10th minute by crashing through three tackles, twisting and turning to get the ball down. Bryce Hegarty added the conversion.
Hegarty added the only other score in the first half with a penalty on the half an hour mark.
The Brumbies got the perfect start to the second half as Henry Speight scored in the corner and Christian Lealiifano was on target with the conversion.
The Reds, however, hit straight back with a try after a burst from Samu Kerevi who set up Chris Feauai-Sautia for the Reds second try. Hegarty was again on target for the home side.
Reds half-back Tate McDermott was next to score following a break from the halfway line.
At that point, the Reds had run in two 50m+ tries in four minutes. Hegarty sotted the conversion to extend the lead.
Brumbies replacement Jahrome Brown came on in the 70th minute, and after 20 seconds of being on the field he intercepted a Reds pass and scored next to the posts.
Lealiifano’s conversion kick gave the Brumbies some hope with nine minutes remaining.
However, the Reds added tries from Hegarty in the 74th minute and Brandon Paenga-Amosa in the 79th minute which earned the home side the bonus point.
The Reds victory is their second this season from five matches and the Brumbies fourth loss in six games.
Next week in Round 7 the Reds host the Rebels at Suncorp while the Brumbies have a bye before returning in Round 8 with a trip to Christchurch where they will face the Crusaders.
Final Score Reds 36 (10) Brumbies 14 (0)
Scorers
Reds
Tries – S.Higginbotham, C.Feauai-Sautia, T.McDermott, B.Hegarty, B.Paenga-Amosa
Pen -B.Hegarty
Con – B.Hegarty 4
Drop –
Cards –
Brumbies
Tries – H.Speight, J. Brown
Pen –
Con – C.Lealiifano 2
Drop –
Cards –
Match Officials
Referee: Paul Williams
Assistant Ref 1: Egon Seconds
Assistant Ref 2: Jaco Peyper
TMO: Ian Smith
Teams
Reds: 15 Hamish Stewart, 14 Filipo Daugunu, 13 Chris Feauai-Sautia, 12 Samu Kerevi (c), 11 Sefa Naivalu, 10 Bryce Hegarty, 9 Tate McDermott, 8 Scott Higginbotham, 7 Liam Wright, 6 Angus Scott-Young, 5 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 4 Harry Hockings, 3 Taniela Tupou, 2 Alex Mafi, 1 Feao Fotuaika
Replacements: Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 16 Harry Hooper, 18 Ruan Smith, 19 Izack Rodda, 20 Fraser McReight, 21 Moses Sorovi, 22 Duncan Paia’aua, 23 Isaac Lucas
Brumbies: 15 Tom Banks, 14 Henry Speight, 13Tevita Kuridrani, 12 Irae Simone, 11 Lausii Taliauli, 10 Christian Lealiifano, 9 Joe Powell, 8 Lachlan Mccaffrey, 7 Tom Cusack, 6 Pete Samu, 5 Sam Carter, 4 Rory Arnold, 3 Leslie Leuluaialii-Makin, 2 Folau Fainga’a, 1 James Slipper
Replacements: 16 Josh Mann-Rea, 17 Scott Sio, 18 Tom Ross, 19 Blake Enever, 20 Murray Douglas, 21 Jahrome Brown, 22 Matt Lucas, 23 Jordan Jackson-Hope
