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'Heck of a battle': Converted athletics talent helps Reds hurdle Brumbies
By AAP
Converted athletics talent Briana Dascombe has helped the Queensland Reds hurdle the Brumbies 20-10 in a Super W game that was paused for 30 minutes due to lightning strikes.
The Reds No.13 scored two brilliant solo tries as a storm pounded Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium.
Her efforts helped them come from 10-3 down to lead before play was halted with 20 minutes left with lightning in the vicinity.
Officials allowed 30 minutes for the lightning to pass, some strikes towards the end of that period beyond the 5km stadium radius allowed by World Rugby not enough to dissuade them.
Scores didn't change in the final period, the Reds moving to 3-0 and Brumbies 0-3 after tight losses to last year's grand finalists Fijiana Drua and the NSW Waratahs to begin the season.
Former high jump and triple jump talent Dascombe was the star for the hosts, the Toowoomba product breaking the line, busting a tackle then beating two more defenders to score a breathtaking first try.
She then charged down a kick, soccered the ball twice and collected cleanly for her double just after halftime that proved decisive.
The Brumbies opened the scoring with a penalty before lock Tabua Tuinakauvadra picked up the ball and darted from behind the ruck, spinning through a tackle and crashing over against the post.
They led 10-3 before Dascombe produced something from nothing and a late Cecilia Smith penalty gave the Reds a 13-10 lead they didn't let slip.
"That was one heck of a battle out there, first game I've played that's had a bit of a stoppage," Reds captain Shannon Parry said.
"They came in and ran with us for the full 80 (minutes)."
Brumbies captain Siokapesi Palu lamented some "silly mistakes" that spoiled their solid build-up.
"That skill execution is letting us down, but compared to previous years we're laying the foundations for the years to come," she said.
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Latest Comments
They don't have any choice against Ireland when the Allblacks pick only two lineout jumpers.
They went short and to the over throw repeatedly against the English and this telegraphing of intent by Jason Ryan to repeat the dose may be a smokescreen.
What I'd do against the Irish is start Cane at seven to rough them up (legally) in a return to 2016 and start three locks with Tupou shifted to six.
Sititi at eight with Savea to lead the bench impact with a 6-2 split that includes Darry and Finau. Ratima and ALB to cover the backs.
Savea to replace Cane after thirty or so minutes with Cane instructed to empty the tank.
Go to commentsNah, that just needs some more variation. Chip kicks, grubber stabs, all those. Will Jordan showed a pretty good reason why the rush was bad for his link up with BB.
If you have an overlap on a rush defense, they naturally cover out and out and leave a huge gap near the ruck.
It also helps if both teams play the same rules. ARs set the offside line 1m past where the last mans feet were😅
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