Super Rugby: Rebels resist Reds comeback

Sean McMahon is congratulated by team-mates after scoring his second try

Despite two second-half tries from Liam Gill, the Rebels held out for a 31-28 win over the Reds in Brisbane.

The Toulon-bound flanker touched down for a brace as the Reds fought back from a 24-7 half-time deficit to bring themselves within three points with 11 minutes remaining, but they were unable to snatch victory as they slumped to their 11th loss of the season to end the Super Rugby campaign in 15th spot.

The Rebels' Sean McMahon score twice in the first half, and also set up the opening try when he broke the defence in the second minute to race upfield with Tom English in support. McMahon delayed his pass brilliantly to draw the last defender and release the winger down the left touchline for a 7-0 lead.

Fly-half Jack Debreczeni then added a penalty to stretch his side's lead to 10 points, but the deficit was reduced when Reds half-back Nick Frisby spotted a gap on the side of a ruck and darted over for a try.

McMahon then scored twice for the visitors. For his first effort he broke the opposition defence once again, but did not need any support as he cantered in untouched under the posts. 

Liam Gill moves to Toulon at the conclusion of the Super Rugby season

His second was a close-range score, scrambling over from a pick-and-drive for a 24-7 lead which the Rebels held onto until the break.

The Reds were first on the board in the second half, with Gill going low from the base of a ruck for his first to make it 24-14, before a planned move off a scrum saw Samu Kerevi ghost through the defence to bring his side within touching distance of the lead.

However the Rebels hit back immediately. The Reds secured the ball off the restart and sent it to fly-half Duncan Paia'aua for the clearance kick, but Paia'aua was charged down by Nic Stirzaker and the scrum-half gathered the ball himself to dot down and reinstate his side's 10-point lead with 23 minutes remaining.

Gill then scored his second in the 69th minute to set up a tense finish, but the 2011 champions were unable to wrestle the game away from the Rebels, who closed their Super Rugby account with a win to finish the season in 12th place.