A try-of-the-year contender has kicked the Queensland Reds' Super Rugby Pacific season into gear as they notched a bonus-point defeat of the Highlanders in Brisbane.
The Reds produced some razzle dazzle offence and a series of brave defensive plays to withstand the improved Highlanders 31-14 at Suncorp Stadium on Friday.
Victory was important for a Reds side fresh off a second-round bye that had followed a limp season-opening loss to the NSW Waratahs.
The Highlanders, who had beaten reigning champions the Crusaders in the first round, threw plenty at the Reds but the hosts were clinical at both ends.
The highlight came early when a Jock Campbell cut-out pass found Harry Wilson, who shovelled a no-look pass between his legs to Josh Flook.
Flook put boot to ball and Tim Ryan regathered and kicked ahead for new Reds captain Fraser McReight, who won the race to the ball.
The Reds led 12-0 and 19-7 before the Highlanders surged behind captain Timoci Tavatavanawai to bridge the gap to five points.
The hosts got creative though and Hunter Paisami played on quickly from a line-out that led to impressive second-rower Lukhan Salakaia-Loto bulldozing over for a deserved try.
Impressive backrower Vaiuta Latu then scooped up the crumbs from a Filipo Daugunu grubber for the match-sealer.
Te Kamaka Howden twice came close to stealing the bonus point off the Reds, but was firstly judged to have been held up over the line by Joe Brial and then spilt it as he reached for the chalk.
Centres Josh Flook and Hunter Paisami were able to straighten up the attack and find holes in the Highlanders' defence.
Winger Tim Ryan was busy on both sides of the ball and was rewarded with a try while Jock Campbell had his dancing shoes on at fullback, routinely beating the first man.
Carter Gordon, in his Reds debut after returning to rugby from an NRL stint, mixed quality moments with unforced errors as he shakes off rust from some preseason leg niggles.
Queensland Reds 31 (Tries: McReight, Faessler, Ryan, Salakaia-Loto, Latu; Cons: Werchon 2, Campbell) def Highlanders 14 (Tries: Lennox, Casey; Cons: Millar 2)
Reds: 15 Jock Campbell, 14 Lachie Anderson, 13 Josh Flook, 12 Hunter Paisami, 11 Tim Ryan, 10 Carter Gordon, 9 Louis Werchon, 8 Harry Wilson, 7 Fraser McReight (captain), 6 Joe Brial, 5 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 4 Josh Canham, 3 Zane Nonggorr, 2 Matt Faessler, 1 Aidan Ross
Replacements: 16 Josh Nasser, 17 George Blake, 18 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, 19 Hamish Muller, 20 Vaiuta Latu, 21 Kalani Thomas, 22 Harry McLaughlin-Phillips, 23 Filipo Daugunu
Highlanders: 15 Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, 14 Caleb Tangitau, 13 Jonah Lowe, 12 Timoci Tavatavanawai (co-captain), 11 Jona Nareki, 10 Cameron Millar, 9 Adam Lennox, 8 Lucas Casey, 7 Sean Withy (co-captain), 6 Te Kamaka Howden, 5 Mitch Dunshea, 4 Will Stodart, 3 Rohan Wingham, 2 Jack Taylor, 1 Ethan de Groot
Replacements: 16 Soane Vikena, 17 Daniel Lienert-Brown, 18 Sosefo Kautai, 19 Oliver Haig, 20 Veveni Lasaqa, 21 Folau Fakatava, 22 Reesjan Pasitoa, 23 Tanielu Tele’a
Referee: Paul Williams
Assistant referees: Angus Mabey, Michael Winter
TMO: Aaron Paterson
