Davies powers Reds into Super final
Source: Agencies |
July 3, 2011, Sunday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
JET-HEELED winger Rod Davies exploded with a hat-trick of tries as the Queensland Reds stormed into the Super 15 final with an imperious 30-13 victory over the Auckland Blues in Brisbane yesterday.
Davies scored his first with a 70-meter dash after a brilliant interception in the 12th minute.
He then sent a crowd of 45,000 at Lang Park into ecstasy by completing his treble with two more searing runs in a 10-minute burst after the break that knocked the wind out of the Blues and ensured the Reds would host next Saturday's final.
"Tonight was just unbelievable," said an elated Davies, the first Reds player to notch a hat-trick of touchdowns. "The guys were scoring tries off our defense ... so I'm going to put that down to the forwards."
The Reds, who topped the table in the regular season, next face either the Canterbury Crusaders of New Zealand or the Stormers who were meeting in Cape Town, South Africa, in the other semifinal.
Queensland continued its fairytale turnaround under coach Ewen McKenzie, who in two seasons has taken the team from the bottom of the southern hemisphere competition to one win shy of its first title in the tournament's professional era.
Although coming into the match full of steam after their playoff win over the New South Wales Waratahs, the Blues were kept scoreless for 40 minutes before lock Chris Lowrey grabbed their only try.
A penalty goal from inside center Luke McAlister shortly after the break trimmed the deficit to 15-10 but the New Zealand side shot itself in the foot with handling errors and was powerless to stop the surging red tide led by the marauding Quade Cooper.
Despite slotting only four of his eight kicks the Wallabies flyhalf was at his mesmerizing best, having a hand in three tries and booting a drop-goal five minutes from time.
The home side was given a flying start by Davies who pounced on an errant pass by fellow winger Lachie Munro and bolted 70 meters to plant the ball between the posts.
Cooper converted the try before setting up the second with a breathtaking run that raised the roof.
After taking a clearing kick, the 22-year-old brushed away the hapless Munro with an arrogant fend-off, then charged down the right wing feinting two passes before slipping a ball to inside center Ben Tapuai who caught the ball by his bootlaces and crossed at the right corner.
Davies scored his first with a 70-meter dash after a brilliant interception in the 12th minute.
He then sent a crowd of 45,000 at Lang Park into ecstasy by completing his treble with two more searing runs in a 10-minute burst after the break that knocked the wind out of the Blues and ensured the Reds would host next Saturday's final.
"Tonight was just unbelievable," said an elated Davies, the first Reds player to notch a hat-trick of touchdowns. "The guys were scoring tries off our defense ... so I'm going to put that down to the forwards."
The Reds, who topped the table in the regular season, next face either the Canterbury Crusaders of New Zealand or the Stormers who were meeting in Cape Town, South Africa, in the other semifinal.
Queensland continued its fairytale turnaround under coach Ewen McKenzie, who in two seasons has taken the team from the bottom of the southern hemisphere competition to one win shy of its first title in the tournament's professional era.
Although coming into the match full of steam after their playoff win over the New South Wales Waratahs, the Blues were kept scoreless for 40 minutes before lock Chris Lowrey grabbed their only try.
A penalty goal from inside center Luke McAlister shortly after the break trimmed the deficit to 15-10 but the New Zealand side shot itself in the foot with handling errors and was powerless to stop the surging red tide led by the marauding Quade Cooper.
Despite slotting only four of his eight kicks the Wallabies flyhalf was at his mesmerizing best, having a hand in three tries and booting a drop-goal five minutes from time.
The home side was given a flying start by Davies who pounced on an errant pass by fellow winger Lachie Munro and bolted 70 meters to plant the ball between the posts.
Cooper converted the try before setting up the second with a breathtaking run that raised the roof.
After taking a clearing kick, the 22-year-old brushed away the hapless Munro with an arrogant fend-off, then charged down the right wing feinting two passes before slipping a ball to inside center Ben Tapuai who caught the ball by his bootlaces and crossed at the right corner.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
