Tate McDermott’s best game of the season was all for nothing when his penalty-prone Queensland Reds crashed 52-24 to the ACT Brumbies on Saturday night.
The Brumbies rejoiced after their first victory at Suncorp Stadium since 2015 snapped a seven-game losing streak at the Reds’ fortress.
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The dire spin-off for the Reds is that their woeful 2-5 start to Super Rugby Pacific leaves them in eighth spot and barely holding on to a quarter-final spot.
“The most penalised team in Super Rugby” is a lamentable tag because every week the Reds pledge to do something about it, the disease spreads.
In this loss in the rain, it was the stupid red card for a clumsy head contact by lock Angus Blyth and a rash of penalties for offsides, obstruction, scrum infringements and breakdown flaws.
The Reds led 17-14 just before half-time. A brief rally in the second half was washed away by four converted second half tries by the superior Brumbies.
As ever, the Reds had big performers. Winger Jordan Petaia had a blinder with his running and ball handling in the wet. Halfback McDermott was close behind as his inspiration helped the side to a 14-7 lead even when down to 14 men for 20 minutes.
TATE McDERMOTT SPECIAL
Reds halfback McDermott produced a perfect response to being overlooked from the first Wallabies training squad selected by Eddie Jones.
His 21st try for the Reds might just have been his most brilliant solo effort.
He mopped up a bouncing tap from the lineout. Rather than transferring the pressure with a pass, he took off. He stepped by five defenders in a veering 55m run. The coup de grace was dummying last man Andy Muirhead and flashing a smile to himself as he flew over for the try.
DUMB ILL DISCIPLINE
Reds lock Blyth missed the opening five rounds with an ankle injury and he’s headed for another lengthy lay-off courtesy of the judiciary.
The Reds’ tallest lock was just eight minutes into this game when a clumsy, reckless charge at Brumbies winger Corey Toole, after he kicked the footy, copped a yellow card.
The TMO upgraded it to a red card. Blyth’s sin of making too little effort to lower his body height meant he clipped Toole on the chin and concussed the winger.
It’s just not good enough from the Reds.
100 UP FOR NEVILLE
Brumbies lock Cadeyrn Neville celebrated his 100th Super Rugby game in style in the midst of a dominant pack performance that generated winning pressure and scrum and maul time.
Fullback Tom Wright was dangerous, flyhalf Noah Lolesio had a controlled game on top of seven-from-seven with the boot and unsung flanker Rory Scott excelled.
ACT BRUMBIES 52 (L Lonergan, T Wright, B O’Donnell, L Ikitau, T Tua, R Valetini, N Frost tries; N Lolesio 6 con, pen goal, R Lonergan con) bt
QUEENSLAND REDS 24 (M Faessler, T McDermott, F McReight tries; I Henry 2 con, pen goal, L Creighton con)
