The ‘Junkyard Dog’ shines again as Reds score a stunner in nail-biting win over Rebels
Jock-Campbell-Reds-try-v-Rebels-SRP-2024
The Reds consolidated fifth position in the Super Rugby Pacific standings when they sealed a 26-22 victory over the Melbourne Rebels in an entertaining Australian derby on Friday.
As the scoreline suggests, this was a tightly contested encounter in Brisbane as momentum between the sides ebbed and flowed throughout but the home side came back strongly in the second half to secure the result.
In the end, the Reds outscored their visitors by four tries to three with Matt Faessler, Fraser McReight, Jock Campbell and Tim Ryan scoring the home side’s tries and their other points came via conversions from Lawson Creighton and James O’Connor.
For the Rebels, Andrew Kellaway, Sam Talakai and Maciu Nabolakasi crossed the whitewash and Carter Gordon succeeded with a couple of conversions and a penalty.
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While there were several exciting moments in this match, Campbell stole the show with his five-pointer as he set off on a mazy run from just inside the Rebels’ half on the hour mark and beat several defenders before diving over the try-line.
Meanwhile, Ryan, who is better known as the “Junkyard Dog”, dotted down for the third successive week and the try he scored was a deserved reward for an outstanding attacking performance.
The Rebels made the brighter start and opened the scoring in the 12th minute courtesy of Gordon’s three-pointer off the kicking tee but the Reds struck back shortly afterwards when Faessler scored his try off the back of a lineout drive.
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It was all Rebels during the rest of the half and they scored two tries within the next 15 minutes. First, Kellaway glided through a gap in the Reds’ defence in the 19th minute and crossed the whitewash. The visitors were then reduced to 14 men when Hunter Paisami was yellow carded for catching Kellaway with a swinging arm while he scored his try.
And in the 28th minute Talakai went over from close quarters which meant the Rebels had their tails up with the score 15-5 in their favour at half-time.
In the 53rd minute, the Rebels had to play with 14 men for 10 minutes after Lachie Anderson received a yellow card for a cynical defensive foul and the Reds made full use of their numerical advantage as tries from McReight, Campbell and Ryan followed in quick succession to give them a 26-15 lead by the 64th minute.
The Rebels did not surrender and responded with Nabolakasi’s try in the 72nd minute but despite a nervy finish, the Reds held on for the victory.
The teams
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 (cc), 5 Angus Blyth, 4 Ryan Smith, 3 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, 2 Matt Faessler, 1 Sef Fa’agase
Replacements: 16 Josh Nasser, 17 Peni Ravai, 18 Zane Nonggorr, 19 Connor Vest, 20 John Bryant, 21 Tate McDermott (cc), 22 James O’Connor, 23 Suliasi Vunivalu
Rebels: 15 Andrew Kellaway, 14 Lachie Anderson, 13 Filipo Daugunu, 12 Nick Jooste, 11 Darby Lancaster, 10 Carter Gordon, 9 Ryan Louwrens, 8 Rob Leota (c), 7 Vaiolini Ekuasi, 6 Josh Kemeny, 5 Josh Canham, 4 Angelo Smith, 3 Taniela Tupou, 2 Jordan Uelese, 1 Isaac Kailea
Replacements: 16 Alex Mafi, 17 Cabous Eloff, 18 Sam Talakai, 19 Tuaina Taii Tualima, 20 Maciu Nabolakasi, 21 Jack Maunder, 22 Jake Strachan, 23 Glen Vaihu
Referee: Paul Williams (New Zealand)
Assistant Referees: Dan Waenga (New Zealand), Mike Winter (New Zealand)