The Queensland Reds rode a thrilling 14-try rollercoaster today to win their way into the SMARTECH Super Rugby Women’s grand final in Sydney on Saturday.
The Reds tamed the Fijian Drua 54-40 at Ballymore Stadium in their semi-final after weathering a second half fightback which ate up their 42-5 half-time lead.
The Reds will now head to North Sydney Oval for the competition climax (2:35pm) against five-time champions NSW, who dealt with the Western Force 54-17 in today’s other semi.
There were stars aplenty for the Reds with 17-year-old centre Shalom Sauaso, living up to the “baby rhino” tag playfully bestowed by cool backline general Lori Cramer.
If Sauaso wasn’t bumping through tackles in midfield, she was making tackles or latching onto the ball at the tackle to earn the crucial penalty in the lead-up to Eva Karpani’s steadying second half try.
Rugby sevens superstar Charlotte Caslick had her best game since switching to the 15-a-side game with her veering darts, smart use of the blindside, a trysaving tackle and the last pass for the key Jemma Bemrose try.
Two-try prop Karpani, halfback Layne Morgan, hooker Tiarna Molloy and flanker Carola Kreis were other standouts in a fine team performance.
There was joy and hugs from the Reds on full-time but also a little relief after the Drua rattled on five second half tries and closed to 47-40 with just over 10 minutes to play.
Reds co-captain Ivania Wong summed it up perfectly after saluting the vocal home ground’s support.
“We were so disappointed with last season (when missing the finals). There has been so much progress and we are super excited to get into the grand final with a performance like this in front of family and friends,” Wong said.
The Reds produced some scintillating play but it was really the mix of game that was most impressive
Kreis, Molloy, Karpani and replacement prop Charli Jacoby crashed over from close range. Sauaso’s own try over 30m was a beauty for a 28-5 lead at the 26-minute mark. Morgan put Sauaso away with a clever inside pass by the ruck after the same play had worked just minutes earlier.
The Reds lead 7-5 at the 15-minute mark when they clinically executed an attack to the left. Centre Faythe Manera’s pass was perfectly timed to fullback Caslick, who shuffled her feet in and out before positioning Bemrose for the charge.
Co-captain Bemrose fended two defenders before steaming over. Her distress at an ankle injury was one of the few down sides to the day.
Cramer potted the conversion from the sideline and her six-from-seven goalkicking for the day was vital in keeping the 2022-23 champions from Fiji at bay.
“In that first half, we were patient, kept the foot down and stayed on top,” Cramer said.
“A good few of the second half tries we conceded were off our mistakes so we can fix those. We’re stoked to make the grand final.
“’Baby Rhino’ always plays physical and always wants the ball. Her work ethic will take her far.”
Non-stop lock Tiarah Minns turned 24 on the day. The “Happy Birthday Minnsy, Go Reds” sign on XXXX Hill showed how quickly the former Melbourne Rebel has been embraced at her new rugby home.
QUEENSLAND REDS 54
Tries: Eva Karpani 2, Carola Kreis, Jemma Bemrose, Tiarna Molloy, Shalom Sauaso, Charli Jacoby, penalty try
Conversions: Lori Cramer 6
Defeated
FIJIAN DRUA 40
Tries: Vitalina Naikore 2, Karalini Naisewa, Alfreda Fisher, Mereoni Nakesa, Vani Arei
Conversions: Luisa Tisolo 2, Vitalina Naikore 2, Karalini Naisewa
Half-time: Reds 42-Fijian Drua 5
Venue: Ballymore Stadium
