Flying Fijians prop Peni Ravai scored a try as the Queensland Reds fell in the final 75 seconds of a tense clash with Moana Pasifika last night after being forced to play 27 minutes with just 14 players.
The Reds were leading 14-10 before a twisting, stretching William Havili snatched the Super Rugby Pacific result 17-14 at Whangarei’s Semenoff Stadium.
It was a night of frustration for the Reds who lost co-captain Tate McDermott and flanker Fraser McReight to second half red cards.
The cards sapped momentum after the Reds shook off a clunky first half when down 10-0.
The Queenslanders snapped into gear 90 seconds after the break when Ravai surged over after strong carries in the lead-up from Harry Wilson and Matt Faessler.
The visitors had a clear plan to play a territory game.
Smart kicks from senior backs Jock Campbell and Hunter Paisami advanced the team 75m upfield to get into position for another strike.
A further Paisami stab kick ahead was grounded over the line by Josh Flook in the 46th minute for what was initially awarded a try.
The five-pointer was voided when a TMO replay detected an infringement from McDermott in a tackle. His yellow card was turned into a red card.
The Reds’ starchy defence did not concede a point in the following 20-minute period when they were down a man.
Shortly after they were restored to 15 players, the Reds produced the try of the match with a sweeping raid initially ignited by Flook, Paisami and Mac Grealy.
The ball was swept from the next ruck to the opposite side of the field through sweet passing touches from Zane Nonggorr, the ever-present Grealy, Josh Nasser and Liam Wright until winger Jordan Petaia dotted down in the corner.
The sideline conversion from replacement flyhalf Lawson Creighton gave the Reds the lead for the first time in the match at 14-10 with 10 minutes to play.
At the 73-minute mark, McReight was yellow carded after contact in a tackle was ruled high by the TMO. It was turned into a red card on assessment.
The Reds held firm by repelling one lineout drive close to the tryline before Moana Pasifika finally found the heartbreaker through Havili out wide.
