Match Centre: Super Rugby Pacific: Reds 40-22 Waratahs

Queensland Reds 40-22 Waratahs, Brisbane

Queensland Reds kick-started their Super Rugby Pacific campaign with a 40-22 victory over Waratahs in the opening round of the Super Rugby Pacific in Brisbane.

Tane Edmed started the proceedings with a 9th minute penalty goal after Reds were penalised for not rolling away but the home side struck back in the 11th minute when Wallaby Hunter Paisami crashed over the corner. Tom Lynagh kicked the conversion taking the scoreline to 7-3.

Waratahs seized the lead in the 19th minute as Mark Nawaqanitawase intercepted a pass for captain Jake Gordon to touchdown and Edmed improved to make it 7-10.

The Reds doubled their tally in the 25th minute as Matt Faessler dotted down at the back of a maul and Lynagh kicked the extras before Jed Holloway and Max Jorgensen combined to send Dylan Pietsch in the corner making it a one point game.

Just at the stroke of half time, Waratahs lost Jorgensen to yellow card for an illegal tackle on Jordan Petaia and to make things worse for them the referee awarded the home side a penalty try as they headed into the break with a 21-15 lead.

The problems compounded for Waratahs as Izaia Perese left the field for a Head Injury Assessment after suffering a concussion as Faessler completed his second at the back of a rolling maul to make it 26-15 and Tate McDermott followed the suit to extend the lead to 18 points.

Even though Waratahs had a glimmer of hope when Pietsch scored his second try in the 59th minute after collecting a pass from Joey Walton, his effort was negated with McReight going past a number of failed tackles from the visitors to complete a 18 point victory.

Team line up:

Reds: Alex Hodgman, Matt Faessler, Zane Nonggorr, Seru Uru, Ryan Smith, Liam Wright (co-c), Fraser McReight, Harry Wilson, Tate McDermott (co-c), Tom Lynagh, Mac Grealy, Hunter Paisami, Josh Flook, Suli Vunivalu, Jordan Petaia

Reserves: Josh Nasser, Peni Ravai, Sef Fa’agase, Cormac Daly, John Bryant, Kalani Thomas, Harry McLaughlin-Phillips, Jock Campbell

Waratahs: Angus Bell, Mahe Vailanu, Harry Johnson-Holmes, Jed Holloway, Miles Amatosero, Fergus Lee-Warner, Charlie Gamble, Langi Gleeson, Jake Gordon (c), Tane Edmed, Dylan Pietsch, Joey Walton, Izaia Perese, Mark Nawaqanitawase, Max Jorgensen

Reserves: Theo Fourie, Hayden Thompson-Stringer, Dan Botha, Sam Thomson, Hugh Sinclair, Teddy Wilson, Jack Bowen, Harry Wilson