The Reds opened their season against last year’s runners up and led throughout the match. By half time the Reds were 13 – 6 up and it never really looked like it was going to be the Hurricanes day.
Whilst the Reds had a much more polished look about them under new coach Eddie Jones it must be said that the Hurricanes were without a number of the All Blacks.
Newly signed Rugby League convert Clinton Schifcofske had a cracking start to his year and kicked 17 points to give the Reds side a surprisingly comfortable 25-16 win over the Hurricanes.
More soon.
Reds –
Try: Mitchell Chapman.
Conversion:Clinton Schifcofske.
Penalties: Schifcofske (5).
Drop-goal: Erick Barnes.
Yellow cards: James Horwill, Mitchell Chapman.
Hurricanes –
Try: Corey Jane.
Conversion: Jimmy Gopperth.
Penalties: Gopperth (3).
Teams:
Reds: 15 Clinton Schifcofske, 14 Henari Veratau, 13 Ben Tune, 12 Andrew Brown, 11 Peter Hynes, 10 Berrick Barnes, 9 Nic Berry, 8 John Roe (captain), 7 David Croft, 6 Mitch Chapman, 5 Hugh McMeniman, 4 James Horwill, 3 Rodney Blake, 2 Sean Hardman, 1 Greg Holmes
Replacements: 16 Stephen Moore, 17 Ben Coutts, 18 Ed O’Donoghue, 19 Tom McVerry, 20 Will Genia, 21 Charlie Fetoai, 22 Brando Va’alu
Hurricanes: 15 Cory Jane, 14 Hosea Gear, 13 Conrad Smith (c), 12 Ma’a Nonu, 11 David Smith, 10 Jimmy Gopperth 9 Chris Smylie; 8 Thomas Waldrom, 7 Nili Latu, 6 Luke Andrews, 5 Bernie Upton, 4 Paul Tito, 3 Neemia Tialata, 2 Tone Kopelani, 1 John Schwalger.
Replacements: 16 Mahonri Schwalger, 17 Tim Fairbrother, 18 Bradley Mika, 19 Serge Lilo, 20 Alby Mathewson, 21 Tamati Ellison, 22 Tana Umaga.
Referee: Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa)
Touch judges: Christie du Preez (South Africa), Stuart Dickinson (Australia)
Television match official: James Leckie (Australia)
