QR Reds miss opportunities against Chiefs
The QR Reds were left ruing missed opportunities and 50-50 refereeing calls in their 32-20 defeat by the Chiefs in their Investec Super 14 match in Hamilton.
Behind 24-3 at halftime, with a mounting injury toll and with fullback Clinton Schifcofske in the sinbin for a professional foul, the QR Reds dug deep and fought their way back to 24-20, before two late tries to the Chiefs blew out the final score.
QR Reds coach Phil Mooney felt the Reds created more attacking opportunities than the Chiefs, but let themselves down with poor finishing.
"I'm very proud of the way we fought back in the second half and the way they dug deep for each other. It's a positive sign. But in the end we just didn't finish off the opportunities we created," Mooney said.
The Reds scored three tries: a double to centre Morgan Turinui and one to replacement wing Digby Ioane, who was a constant danger to the Chiefs' defence in his 40 minutes on the field.
They could have had a bonus point-winning fourth try late in the the game when lock Van Humphries was driven over the line and appeared to ground the ball, but the video referee left it to referee Craig Joubert to make the call and he gave the benefit of the doubt to the Chiefs.
"That was potentially two bonus points there (for the fourth try and for a loss by less than seven)," Mooney said.
The Chiefs were also fortunate to escape a yellow card when a clearly offside Sitiveni Sivivatu prevented replacement scrumhalf Will Genia clearing the ball with the Reds hammering the Chiefs' line.
"Those 50-50 calls aren't going our way at the moment," Mooney said.
The Reds lost scrumhalf Ben Lucas after just 22 minutes with a knee injury and blindside flanker John Roe a minute before halftime with a shoulder problem. Wing Peter Hynes injured his ankle late in the second half and was replaced by Ioane at halftime.
Lucas' replacement Genia also hurt his ankle during the match but played on with it heavily strapped.
Mooney said all injured players would be assessed later and it was too early to tell how serious their injuries were.
Queensland were led from the front by captain James Horwill, who dominated in the lineouts, while David Croft and Berrick Barnes got through a mountain of defensive work, especially when Schifcofske was off the field.
Hooker Stephen Moore, playing his 50th match for the Reds, was the catalyst for a number of the Reds' linebreaks, especially in the first half.
Chiefs 32 (Lelia Masaga 2, Stephen Donald, Sione Lauaki tries; Donald 3 cons 2 pens) def QR Reds 20 (Morgan Turinui 2, Digby Ioane tries; Clinton Schifcofske con, Berrick Barnes dg) at Waikato Stadium, Hamilton.
