Justin Chadwick
Jock Campbell has scored a try with just two minutes remaining as the Queensland Reds overcame a huge scare to beat Moana Pasifika 33-31 and all but secure a Super Rugby Pacific finals berth.
The Reds led 26-7 early in the second half of Saturday’s match in Auckland, but Moana piled on the next three tries to take the lead as a boilover loomed.
Down by five points and with the clock ticking over to the 79th minute, the Reds made the most of a scrum by swinging the ball to fullback Campbell for the levelling try.
Ben Volavola made no mistake with the conversion from straight in front, with the Reds holding firm for victory.
“They came home with a wet sail. It was a set play for us, and thankfully it worked,” Campbell told Stan after the match.
The Western Force (22 points) still have a mathematical chance of pipping the Reds for sixth spot, but they would need to win their final two games with a bonus point in each, plus rely on Queensland losing to Fijian Drua next week.
The Reds (7-6) can finish as high as fourth, but they will need the Crusaders and Brumbies to slip up next week.
Moana have now slumped to 12 straight losses, with their only win this season coming in round one when they defeated Fijian Drua.
On paper, Saturday’s match shaped as an easy win for the Reds.
But given it was Moana’s last home game if plans to disband them at the end of the season go ahead, Queensland were on red alert for a tough outing.
Moana coach Fa’alogo Tana Umaga spoke about the emotional toll of the club’s impending demise before the game.
“It’s been an emotional week, another tough one with all that’s going on,” Umaga told Stan.
“We talked about it earlier in the week – if we’re here, let’s do it well. The last thing we want to do is just peter out at the end.”
Moana performed an emotion-charged Tau Moana before the match, with the haka-style performance getting the juices flowing from the outset.
Reds players barely had time to settle before Moana scrumhalf Augustine Pulu crossed for the opening try inside 90 seconds.
The Reds hit back in the 11th minute when Campbell initiated a break and then combined for a series of passes with Tim Ryan to send the winger over the line.
Josh Canham’s pure determination led to a second try in the 22nd minute, with the Reds lock barging over despite having a Moana opponent tackling him from behind.
Moana’s 27th-minute try via an acrobatic effort from Israel Leota in the corner was rubbed out due to an obstruction, and when Ryan crashed over for his second after the half-time siren, the Reds went into the break with a handy 21-7 lead.
Treyvon Pritchard’s 45th-minute try gave the Reds a 26-7 advantage.
But when Semisi Tupou Ta’eiloa hit back four minutes later and then Moana were gifted a penalty try in the 55th minute, the margin was back to just five points, and with Reds flanker Joe Brial in the bin.
Moana hit the lead in the 58th minute when Leota broke through three tackles on the wing to touch down for a dazzling try.
Queensland had a try ruled out in the 64th minute for an earlier knock-on, and Moana edged their lead out to five points in the 77th minute when Patrick Pellegrini kicked a penalty.
But the Reds broke the hearts of local fans, stealing the win at the death to ensure more pain for Moana.
AAP
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