Lynagh’s in control as Reds take down Blues

Super Rugby Pacific round-up

■By BEN JAYCOCK

TOM Lynagh scored two tries to guide Queensland Reds to a statement victory over reigning champions the Blues.

Lynagh delivered another impactful Wallabies audition with some stoic defence to go alongside his double in the 3521 victory.

The Blues continue their nightmare title defence with just three wins in 10 games, meaning their play-off aspirations are at serious risk.

While denied a bonus point thanks to a late Blues try, the victory still ended the Reds’ two-game losing streak and keeps them in the top four.

Lynagh shot out of the blocks with tries in the fourth and seventh minutes to be named player of the match and again push his case for the Wallabies’ No.10 spot against the British & Irish Lions later this year.

He put his head through a gap from close range for the opener and then, off a Jock Campbell break, ignored his inside support to step the fullback and notch his second.

The 22-year-old then teamed with Tate McDermott and Tim Ryan to hold up rampaging hooker Kurt Eklund. Ryan was involved twice more in try-savers to frustrate the visitors.

“Tom’s not afraid to take it on and today he took some good options,” Reds coach Les Kiss said.

“There was a big step up … the boys ran it beautifully in defence. They’re a hard team to hold back when they get a bit of momentum on

“We didn’t win every battle, but we won enough of the important ones.”

Scrum-half McDermott said the return of Campbell at full-back had complemented Lynagh’s game.

High impact: Tom Lynagh leads the attack for the Reds

PICTURE: Alamy

“He was just so composed … not once was he worried and that’s really important from someone the boys hear from a lot,” McDermott said.

Blues coach Vern Cotter’s headache grew when winger Mark Tele’a was yellow carded for a tip tackle that dumped Ryan on his head. The card was upgraded to red soon after but it was the Blues who dominated territory and should have scored more than the one try by half-time.

The Reds battled for some fluency of their own and it was as if McDermott had had enough when he skipped out of the ruck and through three Chiefs forwards to slide next to the post for a relieving solo try.

They scored twice more to seal the win despite a late Blues try, the visitors capping a night of frustration when Corey Evans fumbled in the in-goal to miss a try that would have instead secured them a crucial bonus point.

“It’s a fact … we’re a better team than that and those are the conversations we’re having at the moment,” Cotter said of the quiet performances of his many stars. “We’re easily satisfied, don’t have that same hunger (as last season). I just want to see the team fight a bit. I don’t mind going down, but going down when we don’t give the best of ourselves is always a bit difficult to accept.”

Table toppers the Chiefs demolished Western Force 56-22 with tries from Emoni Narawa, Samisoni Taukei’aho, Kaylum Boshier, Luke Jacobson, Daniel Rona and two from Ollie Norris Cortez Ratima.

The visiting Aussies scored through Bayley Kuenzle and Harry Potter’s brace but were well beaten in Hamilton.

Hurricanes saw off a late comeback from the Brumbies to secure a 35-29 triumph in Canberra. Hurricanes scored all their points by the hour mark – Billy Proctor and Kini Naholo got two each and Ngane Punivai added another.

Brumbies grabbed first-half tries through Allan Alaalatoa and Luke Reimer but second-half scores from Len Ikitau and Andy Muirhead were too little too late.

In a feisty Pacific Island battle, Moana Pasifika saw off Fijian Drua 34-15 with tries from Danny Toala, Semisi Tupou Ta’eiloa, Julian Savea, Tevita Ofa and a double from Miracle Faiilagi.

Crusaders beat the Highlanders 43-10 in Auckland to secure bragging rights in the South Island derby. All Blacks Will Jordan and Codie Taylor both scored twice.