QR Qld Reds v Brumbies Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane 7:00pm - 17/2/2007
3	Round 03	6
	FT

The QR Queensland Reds lost a tense battle with the Brumbies 6-3 after a high tackle penalty broke the deadlock in the 71st minute of the Investec Super 14 Round 3 match at Suncorp Stadium.

Julian Huxley kicked the winning points for the Brumbies to again claim the Rod Macqueen Cup after Stirling Mortlock was felled by Lloyd Johansson in a tackle that earned the Reds centre a yellow card and later a two week suspension for dangerous play.

With the humidity making the ball slippery and the close marking defence by both sides taking its toll, the crowd of 25,170 witnessed the lowest scoring game in Super Rugby history, but an absorbing contest at that as the Reds again showed tremendous commitment to shut down the Brumbies scoring machine.

The Reds probably had the best of the early opportunities, thanks in part to some excellent attacking pressure from Peter Hynes at inside centre, but errors at crucial times meant they came to nought. One period of sustained attack in the first half led to rookie winger Brando Va'alu diving over in the corner, only to be called back for an apparent infringement.

With a superior lineout and scrum in the first half the Reds had all the ball for a sustained period from the opening whistle, twice shunning kickable penalties to keep the pressure on.

But it was the Brumbies who were first to put points on the board with an early penalty to Mortlock.

Both teams played a man down during the first half after George Smith and Reds flanker David Croft were given yellow cards after an altercation at the breakdown.

Fullback Clinton Schifcofske evened the points in the 31st minute with a penalty goal.

The Brumbies had a chance to break the deadlock when Mortlock’s penalty attempt from behind the 50 metre line fell short, but Huxley succeeded with nine minutes on the clock after Mortlock had been helped off following the Johansson tackle.

The Reds suffered another blow with hooker Stephen Moore (knee) taken from the field in the 75th minute and Hynes - pulled in from the wing to run on at inside centre with Johansson on the bench - missed the second half with a sprained ankle.

Moore will be sidelined for at least four weeks and could miss the rest of the Super 14 season. Hynes is rated a 50-50 chance of playing next weekend. 

Brumbies 6 (Mortlock 1 pen, Huxley 1 pen) def Queensland Reds 3 (Schifcofske 1 pen). Crowd 25,170.