A Nick Frisby double sparked the Queensland Reds’ second win of the season, as they defeated the Cheetahs 30-17 at Suncorp Stadium.
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A Nick Frisby double sparked the Queensland Reds' second win of the season, as they defeated the Cheetahs 30-17 at Suncorp Stadium.
Frisby's two second-half tries kept the Cheetahs at arms' length and staved off an early scare from the South Africans.
The Reds shot themselves in the foot in a sloppy affair, in which neither side was able to make the most of their opportunities for most of the match.
The Cheetahs drew first blood with a penalty in the third minute, before Reds flyhalf Jake McIntyre answered two minutes later.
The opening half was a grind after that, with neither side able to wrestle the ascendency in the first stanza.
Basic handling errors cost the Reds and a 28th minute Anthony Fainga'a yellow card compounded their pain, leaving them a man down, but they managed to stay in contention early.
Frisby stopped a near-certain Cheetahs try in the 32nd minute, pulling his opponent into touch but the South Africans took just one more minute to strike, with Uzair Casslem crossing for the first five-pointer.
Backrower Curtis Browning continued his strong form snatching a try for the Reds just shy of half-time to draw scores level.
Frisby nabbed the breakthrough in the second half, in the 46th minute, with a Jake McIntyre penalty splitting the scrumhalf's five-pointers.
The bad news came for the Reds in the final stages, through injuries and sin bins.
Centre Samu Kerevi exited the game after a wrist injury, with his sideline tears giving insight into the potential severity.
A Liam Gill yellow card put the Reds a man down and the Cheetahs pounced, with a Raymond Rhule try narrowing the margin to 10 points.
McIntyre made the final margin 13, with a penalty goal, before a yellow card to the Cheetahs¹ Willie Britz ended their possibility of a final try.
REDS 30
(Tries: Browning, Frisby Cons: McIntyre 2 Pens: McIntyre 3)
CHEETAHS 17
(Tries: Casslem, Rhule Cons: Zeilinga Pens: Zeilinga)
