Queensland Reds maintain winning form with victory over Western Force in Perth

The controversial sin-binning of powerful centre Hunter Paisami couldn’t derail the Reds from securing another Super Rugby Pacific win.

The Queensland Reds have overcome a controversial second-half sin-binning of Wallabies centre Hunter Paisami to record a hat-trick of Super Rugby Pacific wins with a 29-16 victory over the Western Force in Perth on Friday night.

Leading 15-13 in the 58th minute, the Reds suffered a blow when Paisami was shown a yellow card for a crunching tackle on Force winger Manasa Mataele.

While Paisami’s initial contact was deemed legal, he was judged to have lifted Mataele in completing the tackle despite the Force player having landed safely on his side when hitting the ground.

The Force went 16-15 ahead soon after with a Jake Strachan penalty goal, but the hosts failed to make the most of their numerical advantage.

Instead, it was the Reds who lifted, with winger Josh Flook scoring out wide in the 65th minute from a super James O’Connor grubber kick to regain Queensland’s lead.

Flanker Fraser McReight crossed for another Reds try six minutes later – with the superb O’Connor again the provider – to seal Queensland a deserved win.

Hunter Paisami’s tackle on Manasa Mataele led to him being sin-binned. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images

Paisami’s sin-binning wasn’t the only adversity the Reds had to overcome, with the Queenslanders suffering yet another injury blow less than five minutes into the match when lock Lukhan Salakaia-Loto was forced off with an ankle injury.

Named captain for the match in the absence of injured trio Liam Wright (shoulder), Tate McDermott (knee) and Angus Scott-Young (knee), Salakaia Loto was a shattered man as he left the field.

However, the Reds didn’t drop their heads, with centre Hamish Stewart and fullback Jock Campbell scoring first-half tries to set the tone for the contest.

Earlier, Fijian Drua broke through for their first Super Rugby Pacific, defeating the Melbourne Rebels 31-26 at Sunshine Coast Stadium.

The Rebels scored four-tries-to-three and led 14-0 in the first half, but four second-half penalty goals from Drua replacement Teti Tela proved crucial.

Meanwhile, the Reds women’s team opened its Super W campaign in style, thrashing Western Force 43-7 in Perth.

The Reds scored seven tries in the romp at HBF Park, with the Force only managing one five-pointer in reply.