Reds fall short in tight tussle with Force at Ballymore
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The Queensland Reds have lost their first pre-season trial of 2022, falling 42-33 to a gutsy Western Force outfit who finished strong with 21-unanswered points at Ballymore.
The Reds started slow, going down 21-7 after 20 minutes. However, the Queenslanders didn’t take long to find their groove, with a Josh Nasser double, and tries to Tuaina Taii Tualima, Kalani Thomas and Josh Flook seeing the side take a 33-21 into the final 10-minutes of the game.
Eight players uncapped at Super Rugby level played their first game in Queensland colours, with Spencer Jeans, Tom Lynagh, George Blake, Floyd Aubrey, Kye Oates, Connor Vest, Keynan Tauakipulu and Taj Annan featuring for the Reds
GPS backrower Tualima scored the Reds' first try with a powerful run from the back of the scrum to make it 7-7 early.
After scoring a similar try in his run-on debut against the Highlanders last year, scrumhalf Thomas handed the Reds their second try with deceiving dummy-and-go close to the line.
Following a pinpoint Jeans 50-22 box kick, Flook pounced on a sloppy pass, controlled the loose ball with his foot and regathered to even the scores at 21-all on the stroke of half-time.
Bond University number nine Jeans was involved again in the Reds fourth try, with a nice one-two to Harry Wilson, who gave a lovely pass to Nasser to score under the sticks.
Nasser, in his first game back from an ankle injury, made it two tries in his return with a five-pointer off the back of a rolling maul.
However, tries to Reece Tapine, Andrew Ready and Brad Lacey late in the second-half saw the Force rewarded with a hard-fought 42-33 win.
Queensland head to Roma on Saturday for the Santos Festival of Rugby, where they’ll face the New South Wales Waratahs in their second and final pre-season trial. Tickets available here.
Queensland kick off their Super Rugby Pacific campaign against the Melbourne Rebels at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday the 19th of March
