Palu breaks Reds' hearts

by Brenden Nel | 13 February 2010 (11:28)

Will Caldwell © Gallo Images

A late try on full time by Wallaby No 8 Wycliff Palu broke the Queensland Reds' hearts in Brisbane on Saturday, as his 14-man Waratahs side stole the result in the final minutes of the game, winning 30-28.

Blow-by-blow scoring

It was a sad end for a brave Queensland Reds performance under new coach Ewen McKenzie, as the perennial bottom-dwellers in the Super 14 played with passion on their home ground.

And it was eventually their own playmaker, Quade Cooper, who had inspired much of their play, that missed the tackle on Palu on his own tryline that gave the visitors the victory.

The Waratahs were down to 14 men at the time, after lock Dean Mumm was sent to the sin bin for charging into a ruck with his shoulder.

Mumm was earlier also the villain when the Reds were awarded a penalty try after he first impeded scrumhalf Will Genia in a chase for the ball, and then deliberately knocked the ball out in the dive.

At that stage it seemed as if the Reds would finally get a win over their neighbours after their last victory in 2003.

The game, which was far from the spectacle of the rest of the weekend, started off slowly with Cooper and Waratah flyhalf Berrick Barnes -- a former Reds player who was booed whenever he touched the ball -- keeping the scoreboard ticking over with their boot.

Barned opened the scoring with a drop goal, but the Reds took the lead when former All Black Daniel Braid finished off a Digby Ione break after a superb long pass by Cooper.

At 10-6 half time, the Reds started well in the second half when lock James Horwill crashed over to extend the lead and Cooper added a penalty.

The boot dictated most of the middle part of the half, as Barnes kept plugging the penalties to bring the match evenly poised at 21-18 with 15 minutes to go.

But then the penalty try turned matters in the Reds' favour, with the Waratahs hitting back immediately when Rory Sidey finished off a surge from inside their own half.

Mumm’s departure shortly afterwards looked like the Reds would close it out, but Palu’s score was greeted with celebration from the Waratahs players, and widespread disbelief from the crowd.

SCORERS:

Waratahs: Tries - Rory Sidey, Wycliff Palu. Conversion - Daniel Halangahu. Penalties - Berrick Barnes (4), Halangahu. Dropped Goal - Barnes.

Reds: Tries - Daniel Braid, James Horwill, penalty try. Conversions - Quade Cooper (2). Penalties - Cooper (2). Dropped Goal - Cooper.

Read more on the Super 14 page.