Super Rugby: Queensland Reds 35-25 Sunwolves
By AFP
Last Updated: 21/05/16 12:05pm
Queensland back-row forward Curtis Browning scored two tries to cancel a brace from the Sunwolves' New Zealand import Derek Carpenter as the Reds beat the Tokyo-based side 35-25 in Super Rugby on Saturday.
Japan World Cup star Ayumu Goromaru started at full-back for the Reds - facing many of his compatriots in the Sunwolves side - and kicked two penalties and two conversions for 10 points.
The Reds had a strong start and led 10-0 after 16 minutes but the Sunwolves kept in the match to trail by just four points at the interval.
The home side kicked away with Browning's second try of the match to lead 22-13 just after the resumption but the Japanese tyros hit back with tries from Carpenter and Liaki Moli in the space of five minutes to draw level at 25-25 after 56 minutes.
The Reds finished stronger with a converted try to lock Cadeyrn Neville and a penalty from Jake McIntyre to make the game safe for the home side.
Reds co-interim head coach Matt O'Connor said: "I thought we did a lot of really good things and at the same time we let ourselves down.
"The Sunwolves are a dangerous team and we let them into the game a little too often and probably let ourselves down with inaccuracies in defence, but it was good to see the composure at the end to close it out."
Sunwolves coach Mark Hammett said it was his team's best performance against an Australian side.
"We didn't get it all right by any means, but the attitude is always right," he said. "It's another effort that the Sunwolves and Japan rugby should be proud of."
