Rebels pair step up after Cooper goes down
Melbourne Rebels needed leaders and two of their best stepped up against Queensland Reds on Friday night.
Rebels captain Dane Haylett-Petty was inspirational at fullback with a try and several perfect positional kicks and utility back Reece Hodge was a constant threat with ball or boot as the Rebels claimed a 30-24 win over the Reds at a sparsely attended AAMI Park.
A more clinical performance would have scored the Rebels a bonus point but their defensive shortcoming denied it to them, in fact Reds kicker Bryce Hegarty’s penalty kick after the siren scored a bonus point for the Reds.
The cold and the home side’s recent struggles did little to boost local enthusiasm and repeated penalties from the visitors ate into Melbourne’s repeated attacks on the try line, the Red led that statistic 14-9 and had two yellow cards in the first half.
While the Rebels weren’t as convincing as earlier wins, they still did the job and held up despite losing five-eighth Quade Cooper to a concussion after 55 minutes after he went head first into Samu Kerevi’s knee while attempting a tackle.
The Rebels were sparked into life after 15 minutes when star halfback Will Genia leapt for a high ball and was cannoned into by his Wallabies teammate Kerevi, who was rightly shown a yellow card.
Minutes later the Rebels made the most of their advantage as Marika Koroibete dived over to score while Reds fullback Hamish Stewart was forced off with what appeared to be shoulder injury. Isaac Lucas came on in his place and he scored a try just before half-time.
Right on half-time the game took another turn as the visitors finally were punished for their slew of penalties as No.8 Scott Higginbotham was shown a yellow card for a professional foul.
In the early minutes of the second half the Rebels made use of that extra man as Hodge broke the line in the middle but was caught just before the line passing back to Angus Cottrell who found Genia who set up prop Tetera Faulkner for a rare try.
Cooper’s kick missed but Faulkner soon turned provider minutes later, setting up Hodge for a break down the right wing before he passed inside to Haylett-Petty who scored on 50 minutes to make it 24-11.
A Hodge penalty goal made it 27-11 but replacement prop Harry Hoobert powered over from close range to bring the Reds closer on 56 minutes, the Reds could have had another try in similar fashion on 65 minutes but were held up. Another Hegarty goal made it 27-21 with 11 left and Hodge kicked another goal with three minutes to play.