Quade Cooper of the Reds is carried off injured during the Super Rugby trail match between the Queensland Reds and the Melbourne Rebels played at Ballymore. Pic Darren England. Source: News Limited
MELBOURNE Rebels have completed the Super Rugby pre-season in stunning fashion, upstaging competition powerhouse Queensland at Ballymore as Reds superstar Quade Cooper was badly injured.
Trailing 0-13 after 21 minutes, the Rebels held the Reds scoreless for the remainder of a riveting contest to win their third consecutive trial 18-13.
Tries to Angus Roberts and Scott Fuglistaller rewarded the magnificent work of Melbourne’s under-rated forwards
Unable to win a trial in its first three seasons, Melbourne has posted three in succession following earlier triumphs over NSW Waratahs and the Hurricanes.
The victory was overshadowed by what appeared to be a serious head or neck injury to Cooper, who was stretchered from the field after being tackled in the final minute.
Faced with the might of a formidable Queensland team also containing Will Genia and James Horwill, the Rebels were superb.
Loosehead prop Toby Smith epitomised the Rebels’ mood with a crushing hit early as Melbourne deployed large numbers at the breakdown.
Missed penalty attempts by Cooper and Bryce Hegarty were soon followed by a pair of Cooper penalties as Queensland moved to a 6-0 after 20 minutes.
The intense physicality took its toll as backs Lachlan Mitchell and Tom English were both left hobbling before the quarter-time break.
Queensland upped the ante on resuming as Liam Gill deftly avoided tackles and chipped ahead for Genia to cross the stripe.
Roberts eased the pressure for Melbourne after relentless forward drives allowed Bryce Hegarty to kick through, before Roberts won the race for the loose ball.
Hegarty’s conversion reduced the deficit to six before a high Cooper tackle on Scott Higginbotham allowed the Melbourne fly half to nail a penalty.
Flanker Fuglistaller crashed over just before half-time after a well-organised decoy move allowed Tom English to expose the Reds’ defence with sheer pace.
Hegarty missed the conversion but the Rebels led 15-13 at the break.
Another Hegarty penalty followed a brilliant lineout steal by Sean McMahon and Higginbotham’s turnover-producing tackle on Cooper.
McGahan rang the changes, benching Snith, Weeks, McMahon, Fuglistaller and Roberts as the Rebels clung to a five-point lead in front of a crowd of 8788.
Controversy erupted with only 4mins from the siren when a try to JJ Taulagi was disallowed, drawing jeers from the Ballymore faithful.
Melbourne’s off-season improvement, measured in trial wins against NSW and the Hurricanes, continued with impressive displays from hooker Pat Leafa, while Smith’s imposing presence put the Reds on notice.
Fellow forwards Hugh Pyle and Luke Jones again provided plenty of grunt, while the backrow of Higginbotham, Fuglistaller and Sean McMahon was menacing.
All Black Tamati Ellison repeatedly threatened at inside centre, while Mitch Inman, Mitchell and Roberts were dangerous behind outside of Hegarty and tireless Luke Burgess.
Lock Lopeti Timani was a revelation, while Colby Fainga’a impacted strongly in the backrow.
The Rebels have a bye next week for the opening round of the Australian and NZ conferences.
The South African conference starts Saturday night.
Melbourne 18
Tries - Roberts, Fuglistaller
Pens - Hegarty 2
Cons - Hegarty
Reds 13
Tries - Genia
Pens - Cooper 2
Cons - Cooper
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