The Reds got their first back-to-back victory since the 2006 season after they beat fellow Australian team the Force by 50 points to 10 on Sunday in the Super 14.
A brilliant first half display from the home side, which saw five tries scored, opened up what turned out to be a match winning 36-3 lead.
The second half was a more even contest, with the Reds scoring two converted tries to one to finish 50-10 victors.
The home side opened the scoring when centre Anthony Faingaa slipped through a tackle to score from five metres out.
Only minutes later the Reds were in again when winger Luke Morahan finished a wonderful sweeping movement, which involved at least six sets of hands, to open a 12-0 lead.
The Force got on the scoreboard for the first time through a James O’Connor penalty goal to make the score 12-3.
A brilliant Reds try scored by Digby Ioane opened up a 19-3 lead. Ioane collected a chip kick from Quade Cooper after the visitors had turned the ball near the Reds’ 22m line.
Ioane claimed a second when he took an inside pass from Cooper after several phases near the Force’s goal line.
Faingaa also scored his second in the first half when he took a suspect looking pass from Cooper on first phase from a scrum and went through untouched to score under the posts.
A downpour during half time made for slippery conditions after the break.
Reds’ winger Peter Hynes was shown a Yellow Card by referee Ian Smith in the opening moments of the half for a professional foul close to his own line.
The WA side took advantage of the extra number, with Nick Cummins finishing off a series of quick passes to dive over in the left corner. O’Connor’s sideline conversion brought the score to 36-10 after 46 minutes.
The Reds hit back soon after when Scott Higginbotham ran 40 metres after intercepting a Dane Haylett-Petty pass. The backrower crossed for his second try with just minutes remaining, and replacement Ben Lucas’ conversion took the score to 50-10.
Injuries to hooker Pek Cowan (shoulder) and new recruit Jono Jenkins (ankle) will be assessed during the week.
Scorers
Reds
Tries - A Faingaa 2, L. Morahan, D. Ioane 2, S. Higginbotham 2
Pen - Q. Cooper
Con - Q. Cooper 5, B Lucas
Drop -
Cards - Peter Hynes (43) Yellow. Faingaa (62) Yellow.
W. Force
Tries - Nick Cummins
Pen - J O'Connor
Con - J O'Connor
Drop -
Cards - David Hill (70) Yellow
Match Officials
Referee: Ian Smith (Aus)
Ass. refs: Paul Marks(Aus), Damian Mitchelmore (Aus)
TMO: Steve Leszczynski (Aus)
Teams
Reds
Peter Hynes, Luke Morahan, Digby Ioane, Anthony Faingaa, Brando Va’aulu, Quade Cooper, Will Genia, Leroy Houston, Daniel Braid, Scott Higginbotham, Van Humphries, Rob Simmons, Laurie Weeks, Saia Faingaa, Ben Daley.
Reserves: Sean Hardman, Greg Holmes, Adam Byrnes, Jake Schatz, Ben Lucas, Morgan Turinui, Will Chambers.
Force
1. Nic Henderson 2. Ryan Tyrrell 3. Tim Fairbrother 4. Sam Wykes 5. Nathan Sharpe (c) 6. Ben McCalman 7. Matt Hodgson 8. Richard Stanford 9. Brett Sheehan 10. David Hill 11. Nick Cummins 12. James O'Connor 13. Ryan Cross 14. Scott Staniforth 15. Dane Haylett-Petty
Reserves:16. Pek Cowan 17. Matt Dunning 18. Tom Hockings 19. Jono Jenkins 20. Chris O'Young 21. Sam Harris 22. Mitch Inman
23rd man - Kieran Longbottom
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