Queensland Reds 25-19 Chiefs, Suncorp Stadium
Queensland Reds returned back to winning ways as they defeated Chiefs with a 25-19 margin in the third round of the Super Rugby Pacific at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday.
This is second win for Reds in three games as they moved to the third place in the table while Chiefs are at second position after losing their first game.
Chiefs made the first strike as Josh Ioane stepped inside Harry Wilson to touchdown for the opening try in the 12th minute before the scores were levelled five minutes later when hooker Matt Faessler rumbled over at the back of a driving maul.
The Reds once again seized the lead as Suliasi Vunivalu and Harry Wilson combined to send Fraser McReight over the line and this time Tom Lynagh kicked the conversion to make it 12-5 before Damian McKenzie kicked back to back penalty kicks to make it a one point game.
Just at the stroke of half time, Lynagh responded with a three-pointer of his own as Queensland Reds completed the opening half with a 15-11 lead.
The start of the second half saw Suliasi Vunivalu's kick charged down by Simon Parker with eventually Shaun Stevenson going over for Chiefs as went into the lead before McKenzie and Harry McLaughlin-Phillips traded penalties to make it 18-19 by the 54th minute.
The momentum once again moved towards Reds as McLaughlin-Phillips sent a chip to find Mac Grealy, who allowed Joshua Flook to dot down and McLaughlin-Phillips kicked the extras to make it 25-19 by the end of the third quarter.
The Chiefs looked desperate to narrow down the gap but stern defence from the Reds meant they completed a thrilling six point victory to revive their campaign.
Team line up:
Queensland Reds: Sef Fa'agase, Matt Faessler, Zane Nonggorr, Seru Uru, Ryan Smith, Liam Wright (co-c), Fraser McReight, Harry Wilson, Tate McDermott (co-c), Tom Lyngah, Mac Grealy, Isaac Henry, Josh Flook, Suli Vunivalu, Jock Campbell
Reserves: Josh Nasser, Peni Ravai, Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, Cormac Daly, John Bryant, Kalani Thomas, Harry McLaughlin-Phillips, Tim Ryan
Chiefs: Aidan Ross, Samisoni Taukei'aho, George Dyer, Tupou Vaa'i, Naitoa Ah Kuoi, Samipeni Finau, Simon Parker, Luke Jacobson (c), Cortez Ratima, Damian McKenzie, Liam Coombes-Fabling, Rameka Poihipi, Daniel Rona, Shaun Stevenson, Josh Ioane
Reserves: Tyrone Thompson, Ollie Norris, Reuben O'Neill, Manaaki Selby-Rickit, Wallace Sititi, Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, Josh Jacomb, Anton Lienert-Brown