Reds fight back to beat Force

Western Force felt a sense of deja vu as they squandered a healthy lead to suffer a 31-24 Super Rugby AU defeat to leaders the Reds on Friday.

The Force were beaten by the Waratahs on their Super Rugby return last week after opening up a 14-point advantage, and it was an all-too-familiar story for Tim Sampson’s side at Suncorp Stadium.

They once again surged into a 14-point lead courtesy of converted tries from Jack McGregor and Byron Ralston, but Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Jock Campbell and Taniela Tupou touched down at the other end in the space of just eight minutes.

Ralston’s intercept try on the stroke of half-time reduced the deficit, with Jono Lance missing the chance to level when his conversion was charged down in front of the posts by Filipo Daugunu.

Daugunu added insult to injury by extending the Reds’ lead with a try five minutes into the second half, but Andrew Ready gave the Force hope by going over from the back of a lineout 10 minutes from time.

The unbeaten Reds were not to be denied a second win from three, though, James O’Connor slotting over a drop-goal in the closing stages to take his tally for the night to 11 points.

KEO.co.za News wire is powered by opta