Reds and Blues in memorable encounter to secure top spot in Super XV – Rugby news
Reds and Blues clashed today, May 13, in a thrilling encounter in which both teams ended up securing seven points in the game. Reds received five points after the match and have regained their top spot in the combined Super xv table while two points for
Blues have enabled them to occupy the second spot at the end of round thirteen.
Reds record their 10th win of the season at Suncorp Stadium today on Saturday. The match went all the way to the wire as both teams exchanged eight tries in the game.
Reds started the match with intensity as they kept pressure on the Blues defence. Reds with excellent ball handling and some impressive running by their forwards were quick to pounce on any scoring opportunity.
Reds took the lead during the third minute of the game as their fly half Quade Cooper scored a try and followed it by a conversion to put the hosts in a seven points lead.
Blues reorganized themselves and started to make some runs but failed to develop a threatening move. However, credit also goes to Reds who impressively defended everything and denied Blues from scoring.
Reds replied with Cooper’s first penalty of the game during the 23rd minute of the game. Blues win a penalty in the 25th minute of the game on which their fly half Stephen Brett failed to score.
Reds winger Digby Ioane makes a break during the 26th minute but Blues defence tackled him as flanker Scott Higginbotham gets the pass to go bizarre with the break and passed it to accompanying Fainga to score the second and most impressive try
of the game. Cooper followed with the conversion.
Reds were enjoying more ball and territory possession as Higginbotham came scoring their third try in the game during the 31st minute followed by the Cooper’s conversion.
Blues put their first points on board during the 36th minute of the game courtesy of their flanker Chris Lowrey followed by their center Luke McAlister’s conversion.
Minutes later Blues substituted flanker Lachie Munro scored their second try of the game followed by McAlister conversion to peg back the Reds lead to just 10 points. Reds weren’t holding back and came back scoring with Cooper’s second penalty during the
last minute of the first half of the game to take the scorecard reading 27 – 14 in favour of hosts.
Blues started the second half strongly as Reds focused more on playing a defensive game. Blues were first to score in the second half as their scrum half Alby Mathewson crossed the try line to score their third try in the game. McAlister followed with his
conversion to reduce the lead to just six points.
In the following passage of play, both teams tried to score but failed to do so before Blues earn another penalty on which McAlister scored to reduce the lead by just three points in the 57th minute of the game.
Hanson scored the fourth try for Reds in the 62nd minute of the game to give Reds a table point in the game. Cooper followed with his conversion and extended the lead by 13 point with his 69th minute penalty.
Blues try hard to level the score in the remaining 11 minutes. However, Reds denied them comprehensively as they fought hard to score a bonus point try. Blues winger Rene Ranger scored a bonus point try in the extra time followed by McAlister’s conversion
to take the scorecard reading 37 – 31.
Blues definitely will be relieved to secure two points from the game that would help them to retain their second spot at the end of round 13 of super xv.
Reds will definitely be enjoying their next week bye as Blues host Stormers at Auckland on Friday, May 20.
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