Reds beat Crusaders in Christchurch for the first time this century as Wallabies hopefuls shine
Reds-players-celebrate-a-try-against-the-Crusaders
Several Wallabies shone for the Reds who picked up their first win over the Crusaders in Christchurch since 1999 as the Queenslanders ran out 33-28 victors on Saturday.
The visitors scored five tries in their win with ‘Junkyard Dog’ Tim Ryan grabbing a brace while Fraser McReight, Jeff Toomaga-Allen and Harry Wilson also crossed the whitewash. Lawson Creighton was on hand to kick four conversions.
The Crusaders did not go down without a fight, scoring four tries through Dallas McLeod, Corey Kellow, Quinten Strange and unsurprisingly Sevu Reece. Leigh Halfpenny kicked a conversion on debut while Chay Fihaki kicked the other three.
Click here to see teams and scorers
The opening quarter of the game saw no scoring action until McReight, who is just back from suspension, crossed in the 22nd minute for a try converted by Creighton. The Reds would add to the scoreboard only four minutes later as Ryan added another try to his bright career start. Creighton added the extras again.
A lull would follow on the scoreboard before the Crusaders finally drew blood through McLeod’s converted effort on the stroke of half-time.
A positive finish to the first period for the Crusaders was quickly cancelled out as Toomaga-Allen scored three minutes into the second half with the extras being added yet again.
The hosts did find the strength to respond, scoring two tries in three minutes through Kellow (54’) and Strange (57’) to put pressure back on the Reds. That did not last long, however, as moments later Wilson charged down a David Havili clearance to score just after the hour mark.
The Crusaders would concede yet again as Ryan bagged his second try which is his fifth in his last two appearances. The hosts would push to get back into the game but it would be too late despite Reece’s late converted try.
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The teams
Crusaders: 15 Leigh Halfpenny, 14 Johnny McNicholl, 13 Levi Aumua, 12 Dallas McLeod, 11 Sevu Reece, 10 David Havili, 9 Mitch Drummond, 8 Christian Lio-Willie, 7 Ethan Blackadder, 6 Cullen Grace, 5 Quinten Strange, 4 Scott Barrett (c), 3 Fletcher Newell, 2 Brodie McAlister, 1 George Bower
Replacements: 16 George Bell, 17 Joe Moody, 18 Owen Franks, 19 Jamie Hannah, 20 Corey Kellow, 21 Noah Hotham, 22 Rivez Reihana, 23 Chay Fihaki
Reds: 15 Jock Campbell, 14 Tim Ryan, 13 Josh Flook, 12 Hunter Paisami, 11 Mac Grealy, 10 Lawson Creighton, 9 Kalani Thomas, 8 Harry Wilson, 7 Fraser McReight, 6 Liam Wright (c), 5 Angus Blyth, 4 Ryan Smith, 3 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, 2 Matt Faessler, 1 Peni Ravai
Replacements: 16 Josh Nasser, 17 Sef Fa’agase, 18 Zane Nonggorr, 19 Connor Vest, 20 John Bryant, 21 Louis Werchon, 22 Harry McLaughlin-Philips, 23 Suliasi Vunivalu