A near-perfect first half has delivered the Queensland Reds their third win of the season with a 53-26 win over the Melbourne Rebels at AAMI Park.
Five tries in the opening 40 minutes gave the visitors a 33-7 lead at the break.
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The Rebels refused to go away quietly and three tries in 15 minutes gave them a chance at a famous comeback.
In the end, the Reds were too strong and closed out the game late.
A double to Josh Flook sealed the win as Les Kiss' side surges to second on the ladder.
Reds coach Kiss was delighted with the performance to clinch their first away win of the year.
"Some things to work on for sure, but to win on the road with 53 points, that's not bad," an understated Kiss said.
"There are some things we still have to work on, and we just put ourselves under a bit of pressure and gave them a chance to get back into the game there for a while.
"But I never thought we were going to yield that game."
Lock Seru Uru was also a stand-out with two tries as the visitors raced out an early lead.
It was a gutsy effort for the Reds, who had a short turn-around after their rousing victory over the competition heavyweight Chiefs last round.
The Rebels were disappointing in the first half, with their highly-rated, forward pack led by ex-Red Taniela Tupou, failing to fire.
Melbourne started the second half in better shape and were first on the scoreboard as they started to move the ball and reduce their errors.
They scored two tries, through winger Glen Vaihu and reserve prop Isaac Aedo Kailea, in the space of five minutes to close the gap to 33-19.
But their comeback was snuffed out when Vaihu gifted the Reds a try.
Stopping the ball going over the sideline, he threw it back inside - straight into the hands of Queensland centre Josh Flook, who strolled to the tryline.
While the Rebels added another try through Tuaina Taii Tualima, momentum was all the Reds' way.
They pushed past the half century through reserve hooker Josh Nasser while Flook added a second to wrap up a comprehensive win.
Melbourne skipper Rob Leota said his team failed to execute their game plan and paid the price.
"We were passive on defence and the coaches did a really good job to set us up well and we just weren't there in the first half, and we've got to be better against a good team like the Reds," he said.
"That's on us, to be able to deliver on the game plan."
The only downside to the victory for the Reds was a knee injury to centre Isaac Henry, which Kiss said "didn't look good"
Tries: Uru 2, Faessler, Wright, Ravai, Flook 2, Nasser
Cons: McLaughlin-Phillips 4/5, Lynagh 1/2
Pens: Lynagh 1/1
Tries: Kellaway, Vaihu, Kailea, Tualima
Cons: Gordon 3/4
REBELS (1-15): Matt Gibbon, Jordan Uelese, Taniela Tupou, Josh Canham, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Josh Kemeny, Vaiolini Ekuasi, Rob Leota (c), Ryan Louwrens, Carter Gordon, Glen Vaihu, Nick Jooste, David Feliuai, Lachie Anderson, Andrew Kellaway
RESERVES: Ethan Dobbins, Isaac Kailea, Sam Talakai, Tuaina Taii Tualima, Maciu Nabolakasi, Angelo Smith, Jake Strachan, James Tuttle
REDS (1-15): Peni Ravai, Matt Faessler, Zane Nonggorr, Seru Uru, Ryan Smith, Liam Wright (co-c), Fraser McReight, Harry Wilson, Tate McDermott (co-c), Harry McLaughlin-Phillips, Mac Grealy, Isaac Henry, Josh Flook, Suliasi Vunivalu, Jock Campbell
RESERVES: Josh Nasser, George Blake, Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, Cormac Daly, John Bryant, Kalani Thomas, Tom Lynagh, Jordan Petaia
Referee: Nic Berry
Assistant Referees: Matt Kellahan, George Myers
