Super Rugby 2018: Reds beat Brumbies 18-10 at Suncorp Stadium

THEY couldn’t score a try and copped another yellow card but the Reds have broken through for an 18-10 Super Rugby upset win over the Brumbies — Brad Thorn’s first victory as coach.

Taniela Tupou of the Reds fends Henry Speight of the Brumbies.

THEY couldn’t score a try and copped another yellow card but the Reds have broken through for an 18-10 Super Rugby upset win over the Brumbies.

The Reds largely dominated possession and territory on Friday night but had only six penalty goals — three from James Tuttle and three from Jono Lance — to show for it.

Fortunately, it was all they needed to secure their first victory of the new campaign, proving the Reds are made of much sterner stuff than what their season opening defeat to the Rebels suggested.

The Brumbies went over twice — through halfback Joe Powell in the first half and Isi Naisarani with five minutes to go.

Neither effort was converted, letting Queensland off the hook in front of 11,034 fans at Suncorp Stadium and handing Brad Thorn his first Super Rugby win as coach.

Lance sealed it with his third penalty in the dying minutes.

Like last week, the Reds again were reduced to 14 men after Caleb Timu was yellow carded controversially for a “cynical infringement” — a no-arms hit on Tom Banks — just before halftime.

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But they came through it unscathed on the back of a performance built on ferocious defence and a strong setpiece showing.

The introduction of JP Smith — who replaced the injured James Slipper just before the break — helped cement their dominance with a series of crucial scrum penalty wins.

It wasn’t pretty but, for this long suffering Queensland side, it didn’t matter.

However, their inability to convert their chances would have cruelled them on another night.

At least four golden opportunities to cross the line went begging for the Reds in the first half alone.

Powell helped nullify two of them, getting underneath Taniela Tupou to deny a certain try in the opening stages, before saving another 20 minutes later by knocking a loose carry out of Eto Nabuli’s hands.

When Powell spotted a small gap in the Queensland line and darted through on 30 minutes — followed by Timu’s sin-binning — it looked as if the jig was up.

But it only proved a false dawn for the Canberra side, who were left frustrated after pushing the Reds all the way.

REDS 18 (Jono Lance 3, James Tuttle 3 pen) BRUMBIES 10 (Isi Naisarani, Joe Powell tries)

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Originally published as Super Rugby 2018: Reds beat Brumbies 18-10 at Suncorp Stadium