Match Details
| Queensland Reds |
VS |
Waratahs |
|
11 |
Kick off times:
7:40pm
(Local) Sat 17 May
7:40pm
(AEST) Sat 17 May
|
18 |
|
The Waratahs have secured a home-semi-final with a hard-fought 18-11 victory over the gallant Reds at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night.
Having led 12-3 at the break, the Waratahs' defence held firm under heavy fire to claim their ninth win of the season and lock up second place on the Super 14 ladder.
After dominating much of the second-stanza, the Reds had the final say when former Waratah Morgan Turinui delivered a pin-point kick for winger Peter Hynes to cross well after the siren had sounded.
The Waratahs' semi-final opponent is yet to be decided with the Hurricanes, Sharks and Stormers still in the running for the post season.
There was to be no fairytale ending for departing Reds stalwarts David Croft and Sam Cordingley who bid farewell after distinguished careers for Queensland.
The Waratahs dominated territory and possession in the opening minutes of a fiery encounter but had nothing to show for their efforts as the sides remained locked at 0-0 midway through the first half.
Missed penalty goals to Kurtley Beale in the 11th and 13th minutes let the Reds off the hook, while a spate of handling errors added to the Waratahs' frustrations.
The Waratahs finally turned pressure into points in the 22nd minute when lock Dean Mumm strolled over untouched after a sustained attack deep in Reds territory.
Beale made no mistake from point-blank range to hand the visitors a 7-0 lead.
Clinton Schifcofske posted the Reds' first points of the match with a 35th-minute-penalty goal to cut the deficit to 7-3.
But the Waratahs hit back in the shadows of half-time when rampaging No.8 Wycliff Palu burst through a maul to sprint 20 metres and send his side into the sheds 12-3 ahead.
Queensland posted first points after the restart when Berrick Barnes slotted a 45th-minute-drop goal.
The match developed into an old-fashioned-arm wrestle as the Reds began to ask serious questions of the visitors' defence, but the Waratahs steadied with two penalty goals to stretch the advantage to 18-6 with 12 minutes to play.
It took Turinui's moment of brilliance after the siren to breach the visitors line, but it was too little too late for the hosts.
Waratahs 18
Tries: Mumm, Palu,
Con: Beale,
Pen: Beale 2,
Reds 11
Tries: Hynes
Pen: Schifcofske,
Drop Goal: Barnes,
@Suncorp Stadium; May 17 2008.
