Feb 25 – Winger Dom Shipperly streaked down the right
touchline as the siren sounded to score a last-gasp try that
snatched a 25-21 victory for the Queensland Reds over the New
South Wales Waratahs in their Super Rugby match in Sydney on
Saturday.
With the final seconds ticking down, Shipperley, standing in
for injured regular winger Rod Davies, received the ball wide
and slipped past a tackle from Brackin Karauria-Henry before
charging 60 metres to plant the ball behind the posts.
The try broke the Waratahs’ hearts after the home side
appeared to have victory sewn up following a 70th minute try to
new recruit Sarel Pretorius.
“The Waratahs put a lot of pressure on us at the breakdown
and we were a bit sloppy in contact so we’ve got plenty to work
on but very, very happy that we came here and got four points,”
Reds skipper James Horwill said in a pitchside interview.
Although dominated for large stretches, the Reds were
unflappable in the first game of their title defence, defending
stoutly and capitalising repeatedly on the Waratahs’
ill-discipline.
Laser-sharp Mike Harris filled the breach at flyhalf for the
injured Quade Cooper with aplomb, slotting six penalty goals and
the final conversion for a 20-point game.
The Waratahs conceded seven penalties to three in a scrappy
first half to trail 12-8 at the break and the deficit could have
been worse but for a fortuitous try to number eight Wycliff Palu
in the 38th minute.
Former Cheetah Pretorius dispossessed Will Genia as the
Wallabies scrumhalf attempted to run the ball out of defence and
Palu scooped up the spilled ball and trotted two metres over the
line at the left corner.
Flyhalf Halangahu missed the tricky conversion kick and a
late penalty after the siren gave Harris a straightforward kick
in front from the 22-yard line.
Continued…
