The Reds beat an ill-disciplined Sunwolves 32-26 in a bizarre Super Rugby game after at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane.
It was a crazy match marred by foul and repeated cynical play by both teams. Referee Angus Gardner went to his pocket seven times, handing out two red cards in the process.
The Queensland Reds scored four tries, grinding out the win against a depleted Sunwolves, who had received five yellow cards in one of the most ill-disciplined Super Rugby matches in a while.
Harry Hockings was red carded for striking Rahboni Warren-Vosayaco’s head with his boot. Vosoyaco received a yellow for holding Hockings’ leg.
Semisi Masirewa was sent off after being yellow-carded twice, either side of halftime as the Sunwolves imploded.
Super Rugby Video Highlights: Reds versus Sunwolves, Round 12, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
He received his marching orders for a high tackle on Jock Campbell three minutes after returning from his first yellow.
Sefa Naivalu scored from the resulting penalty.
Bryce Hegarty was calm while everyone else was flustered
The 26-year-old scored 17 points, including a try in a commanding performance at first receiver.
He also had a hand in setting up Naivalu’s five-pointer as the Australians turned the screw.
The hosts took their chances when presented after the interval.
They made their numerical advantage count, but they made hard work of it.
Gerhard van den Heever grabbed a double; he was one of the few bright sparks in a dark display.
His first try cancelled out Hegarty’s score, but Taniela Tupou touched down, early in the second half; it was was a killer blow.
The hooker barged over from close range to restore his team’s lead. Masiwera was sent off soon afterwards.
Hayden Parker’s boot, as ever, kept the visitors in touching distance.
The flyhalf was flawless again from the tee (four penalties and a conversion) and setting up Van den Heever’s first try.
Van Den Heever’s late intercept gave the hosts a scare as the big winger netted a brace.
However, some superb defending – and Paenga-Amosa’s 72nd-minute try – was enough to get the win as the Sunwolves finished with 12 players on the field.
Tony Brown will be furious. Had his team not lost the plot, the game was theirs for the taking.
The tourists could have won despite being down for long periods of the contest, but they could not finish.
They showed heart, but not smarts and will need to address this shambles.
It was a chaotic affair in Brisbane as the lead changed hands multiple times during the contest
The Sunwolves had two men sent to the sin-bin in the first half.
Masataka Mikami and Masirewa were yellow carded for repeated infringements in the red zone. It started the rot.
The Reds did not capitalise on Mikami’s card, not scoring while the prop was on the naughty step.
They gave away another excellent opportunity, but Kara Pryor held up a weak maul before the break to win a significant turnover.
Parker and Hegarty traded penalties in the opening exchanges.
It only took 12 minutes for Mr Gardner to call over the two captains and warn them for repeated infringements at the ruck and some cyclical play.
Queensland struck, soon afterwards.
Hegarty finished off a counter-attack after Scott Higginbotham intercepted a wayward Sunwolves lineout.
Higginbotham raced away to the Sunwolves’ 22 before offloading a pop-pass to the supporting Hegarty.
The standoff sped away from the cover-fence to score near the corner.
But the visitors hit back after some vision from Parker
He saw Hamish Stewart had joined the line, so the standoff put in a grubber for Gerhard van den Heever to chase.
The former Bulls and Stormers’ player collected the kick and dotted down in the corner.
Parker added the tricky conversion to put his side back in front.
The Sunwolves saw out the half without conceding any points.
Queensland strike after the break
Brad Thorn’s half-time team-talk worked because his charges came out and scored soon after the restart.
Tupou crashed over from close range to level, and Hegarty put his side in front with the kick.
Parker, however, added his third penalty, restoring his side’s slender lead.
Naivalu collected Hegarty’s pin-point cross-kick to put his side on top.
Parker reduced the deficit to six with a 61st-minute penalty.
Paenga-Amosa thought he had scored, but the television replay showed that the hooker was down before he got up to score.
There was action at both ends
Van den Heever intercepted Stewart’s wayward pass and raced away to secure his double.
Paenga-Amosa did eventually get his try, flopping over the chalk after the Reds put together their only decent rolling maul of the match.
There was still time for Hockings and Vosayaco to be carded.
The Reds held on, but this was a bizarre match.
Final Score: Reds 32 (8) Sunwolves 26 (13)
Scorers
Reds
Tries – Hegarty, Tupou, Naivalu, Paenga-Amosa
Pen – Hegarty (2)
Con – Hegarty (3)
Drop –
Cards – Hockings (Red, 76′)
Sunwolves
Tries – Van Den Heever (2)
Pen – Parker (4)
Con – Parker
Drop –
Cards – Mikami (Yellow, 24′), Masiwera (Yellow, 36′; Yellow, 49′ – RED), Tamura (Yellow, 70′), Vosayaco (Yellow, 76′)
Match Officials
Referee: Angus Gardner
Assistant Ref 1: Ben O’Keeffe
Assistant Ref 2: Damon Murphy
TMO: Ian Smith
Teams
Reds
15 Hamish Stewart, 14 Jock Campbell, 13 Chris Feauai-Sautia, 12 Samu Kerevi (captain), 11 Sefa Naivalu, 10 Bryce Hegarty, 9 Tate McDermott, 8 Scott Higginbotham, 7 Liam Wright, 6 Angus Scott-Young, 5 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 4 Izack Rodda, 3 Taniela Tupou, 2 Alex Mafi, 1 Harry Hoopert.
Replacements: 16 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 17 JP Smith, 18 Ruan Smith, 19 Harry Hockings, 20 Adam Korczyk, 21 Moses Sorovi, 22 Duncan Paia’aua, 23 Seb Wileman.
Sunwolves
15 Ryohei Yamanaka, 14 Gerhard van den Heever, 13 Jason Emery, 12 Phil Burleigh, 11 Semisi Masirewa, 10 Hayden Parker, 9 Kaito Shigeno, 8 Rahboni Warren-Vosayaco, 7 Kara Pryor, 6 Hendrik Tui, 5 Luke Thompson, 4 Grant Hattingh, 3 Hiroshi Yamashita, Shota Horie, 1 Masataka Mikami.
Replacements: 16 Nathan Vella, 17 Pauliasi Manu, 18 Takuma Asahara, 19 Tom Rowe, 20 Ben Gunter, 21 Jamie Booth, 22 Yu Tamura, 23 Jamie Henry.
