Brumbies fall to Reds at Suncorp

The Brumbies have suffered their first loss of the 2022 Harvey Norman Super Rugby Pacific season, falling 21-7 to the Queensland Reds in a disappointing round seven clash at Suncorp Stadium.
 
On a night where the Brumbies were far from their best, the Reds took their opportunities well and were deserved victors, squaring up the 2022 series between the burgeoning rivals.
 
The Reds opened the scoring through the boot of flyhalf James O’Connor, but it was the Brumbies who would get the first try of the night, substitute Cam Clark scoring minutes into his debut.
 
Coming on for Jesse Mogg who exited with a lower leg injury, Clark found himself with some space in front, showed to his outside and had enough speed and strength to get to the line.
 
Lonergan converted well from the touchline, cancelling out an uncharacteristic miss from a previous penalty, but it would ultimately be the Brumbies only points of the night.
 
O’Connor added three more, the Brumbies inches in front despite the Reds going down to 14 after backrower Tuaina Taii Tualima was deemed to have connected with the head of James Slipper at a dead ruck.
 
After the break, the Brumbies loose play was finally punished by the home side. Failing to clear their lines, the Brumbies gave possession back to the Reds inside their own red-zone, Fraser McReight the beneficiary.
 
O’Connor added another three, and the momentum was firmly with the Reds with Rob Valetini sent to the sin bin.
 
Valetini returned, but the Brumbies couldn’t wrestle back the advantage and with Clark now in the bin, the Reds hunted his open channel, Filipo Daugunu strolling through off O’Connor’s perfect pass.
 
That try seemed to seal the result, the Brumbies failing to make the most of their opportunities in the Reds half leaving the final score at 21-7.
 
The Brumbies will play the Fijian Drua in round eight of Harvey Norman Super Rugby Pacific at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane on Saturday 9 April on the home of rugby, Stan.