A consolation point for reds
QR Reds claim consolation point from Hurricanes match
Late Roe try salvages bonus pointFriday, 22 February 2008
A bonus point-earning late try to the QR Reds helped eased some of the pain of their 23-18 defeat by the home town Hurricanes in the second round of the 2008 Investec Super 14 tournament.
The sides scored two tries apiece in a game that thrilled the Wellington crowd of 17,500 with end to end action.
Unfortunately for the Reds it was the Hurricanes who went end to end for their two tries, both coming from turnovers when the Reds were on attack, with the talented and powerful Hurricanes proving unstoppable in the broken play.
The Reds' two tries came with determined running through the teeth of the forwards; the first by lock Van Humphries and the second close to fulltime by skipper John Roe.
The Reds had led 10-0 early but a Jimmy Gopperth clearance kick bounced the wrong way for Digby Ioane and the right way for Hosea Gear to set up a try for centre Tane Tu'ipulotu, despite a fine covering tackle on Gear by fullback Chris Latham, the Reds' best on the night.
The Reds went to the break leading 13-10 but were forced to spend large sections of the second half defending, with the pressure producing penalties and mistakes like the Hurricanes' second end-to-end try when a stripped ball was whisked 80m up the field in double quick time for a try to All Black win Ma'a Nonu, one of the 'Canes best on the night.
The QR Reds used their whole reserves bench on the night, including new cap Dayna Edwards, a Reds Academy prop who came on for Rodney Blake and played well until being replaced after 30 minutes with an ankle injury.
Of more serious concern is flanker Hugh McMeniman, who came off after 16 minutes with a worrying ankle injury, which will be x-rayed on the team's return to Brisbane.
Scrumhalf Sam Cordingley has a suspected groin muscle strain.
Hurricanes 23 (Tane Tu'ipulotu, Ma'a Nonu tries; Jimmy Gopperth 2 cons, 3 pens) def QR Reds 18 (Van Humphries, John Roe tries; Clinton Schifcofske con, 2 pens). Crowd 17,500
I hope the injury toll doesn't continue to mount again, devestating for a team desperate to rebuild and return to form...
