Reds hit back with bench power turning tide
A second-half comeback has driven the Queensland Reds to a thrilling 34-31 Super Rugby win over the Sunwolves in Tokyo yesterday.
Staring down the barrel at a fourth-straight loss this season with a 21-5 halftime deficit, the Reds overwhelmed the home team in the second half, thanks to spark off the bench by Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Harry Hoopert and Tate McDermott.
All three substitutes scored in the second half, with PaengaAmosa grabbing a double and McDermott pouncing on a Harry Hockings charge-down in the dying minutes.
Fullback Hamish Stewart, who had missed a conversion attempt after McDermott’s try that would have put the Reds ahead, sealed the win with a penalty with less than two minutes to go.
Victory looked unlikely after a poor first half by coach Brad Thorn’s men, with the in-form Sunwolves running in three tries to one to hold a 16-point lead at the break.
Liam Wright’s try after a 20-metre drive from a maul was all the Reds had to show as Jamie Booth, Rahboni Vasayco and Dan Pryor all scored for the Sunwolves.
Needing to hit back first after the break, the Reds did just that, Paenga-Amosa and Hoopert scoring to reduce the margin to two, before Paenga-Amosa’s second put the Reds ahead for the first time in the 66th minute.
From the kick-off however, the Reds handed the initiative back to the Japanese team, with rookie five-eighths Isaac Lucas colliding with wing Chris Feauai- Sautia and knocking the ball on.
The Sunwolves made the most of the error to hit the front with substitute halfback Keisuke Uchida scoring, before a Hayden Parker penalty extended the margin to five.
Rather than dwell on allowing the Sunwolves back in, the Reds finished with a wet sail, with McDermott’s 76th-min try and Stewart’s penalty sealing it.
Queensland next host the Brumbies, while the Sunwolves host the Lions.
AAP