• You are here:
• Western Force v QR Qld Reds

A red card to QR Queenland Reds winger Peter Hynes less than 30 minutes into the first half created a mountain the Reds were unable to climb as they succumbed to the Western Force 38-3 in round seven of the Investec Super 14.

Andrew Walker's penalty goal midway through the first half was the only score the Reds could muster, while the Force scored a bonus point fourth try with seconds left on the clock.

Even before the dismissal the Force had looked to have the Reds measure. And when the Reds lost both scrum general and hooker Sean Hardman and scrumhalf Will Genia in the space of two minutes barely 15 minutes into the game they also lost valuable cohesion, especially at the scrum. 

The Force had started the game with energy and enthusiasm, putting the Reds off their stride and going to an early 10-0 lead at the eight minute mark when Hynes was ruled to have deliberately knocked down a pass with the Force on attack, when another interpretation might have been that he was attempting an intercept. 

Referee Brett Bowden not only awarded the Force a penalty try but doubled the penalty with a yellow card for Hynes.

The yellow turned into red only few minutes later when Hynes upended Force fullback Drew Mitchell in what was ruled to be a dangerous tackle to earn a second yellow card which translated to instant dismissal.

The Reds battled manfully to overcome the loss, going into halftime at 18-3 down.

However there was to be no miracle comeback in the second half and the Force finally claimed the first four try bonus point by an Australian side this season.

The one small bright spot for the Reds was a flash of second half brilliance by flyhalf Quade Cooper whose dazzling footwork got just short of the tryline.

Western Force 38 (penalty try, Chris O' Young, Cameron Shepherd, Digby Ioane tries Cameron Shepherd 3 cons 4 pens) def QR Queensland Reds 3 (Andrew Walker pen). Crowd: 26,023.