Reds kill off Waratahs' hopes
2004-05-08 14:54
Brisbane - The Reds killed off Waratahs' hopes of reaching the semi-finals of rugby's Super 12 with a committed, if unspectacular, 23-7 victory at Lang Park here on Saturday.
The Reds relished the opportunity of depriving their Australian rivals of a place in the play-offs by grinding out a two tries to one win before 42 327 fans.
Reds, who looked likely to finish with the wooden spoon at one stage in the season, rounded off their Super 12 campaign with three consecutive victories while the underachieving Waratahs yet again flattered to deceive.
The Waratahs, one-time leaders in this campaign, needed to win with maximum points to give themselves a chance of playing in next weekend's semi-finals, yet they were second-best throughout the game to the intense Queenslanders.
Waratahs have now gone nine seasons without winning an Australian derby match against either the Reds or the Brumbies away from Sydney.
Waratahs appeared scarred
The Reds embraced a no-frills game plan of kicking for the corners and nullifying the directionless Waratahs attack with stout defending in numbers, to which the Waratahs could find no answer.
The Waratahs appeared scarred by the previous week's capitulation when they frittered away a 28-7 lead with just under 30 minutes left to lose 29-28 to the Highlanders.
The Reds led only 3-0 at halftime after an 18th-minute Elton Flatley penalty goal.
They widened the gap to 13-0 with winger Peter Hynes scoring off a Latham break in the 43rd minute before the Waratahs finally scored their first points through Wallaby winger Lote Tuqiri with his seventh try of the series.
The Reds hit back briskly with Wallaby lock Nathan Sharpe plunging over wide out for their second try after smart work by their inspirational fullback Chris Latham.
Flatley landed the conversion and a 78th-minute penalty goal to finish with 13 points from two conversions and three penalties.
Following the Waratahs' demise, the Brumbies are the only Australian franchise playing in this season's play-offs.
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AFP