Rugby: Harris boots Reds record

Herald on Sunday

3 Mar, 2012 04:30 PM2 mins to read

Mike Harris of the Reds is tackled by David Pockock of the Force. Photo / Getty Images

Reds 35 Force20

Cult hero Radike Samo lit up Suncorp Stadium with another superb solo try before radar-boot Mike Harris ensured the Queensland Reds survived a second-half scare by the Western Force last night.

Harris slotted a Reds record nine goals from nine attempts - giving him an amazing 24 from 24 in Super Rugby over the past two seasons - to see the defending champions prevail 35-20 on a wet night.

In their first match at home in 2012, Queensland mixed good with bad as they were given a major fright by the underdogs who looked out of it when down 26-6 in the 50th minute.

Inspirational Force skipper David Pocock and then playmaker James Stannard stepped through feeble defence for two tries within five minutes to propel the Perth-based side back into the contest.

But Kiwi-bred first five-eighth Harris, ably filling in for the injured Quade Cooper, killed off the uprising by kicking three more clutch penalties to equal John Eales' 1996 mark of nine goals.

"We're pleased to win but we're not pleased how we got it," said Reds skipper James Horwill, who lamented poor ball control and defensive lapses.

"They were pretty soft tries ... us just missing one on one tackles and that's not good enough."

The Reds built their 20-point lead through a Samo intercept before the break when he recreated his memorable IRB Try of the Year against New Zealand.

In in his first match at Suncorp Stadium since last August's Tri Nations win over the All Blacks, the wild-haired No 8 again sprinted 60 metres to the delight of the 33,563-strong Brisbane crowd after steaming on to a Stannard inside ball from a scrum move.

Queensland were simply more clinical, kicked better and were far smarter in their option-taking than their winless western rivals.

While the visitors' pack held their own and constantly pressured at the breakdown and set-piece, their attack fumbled and bumbled its way into errors throughout the first half whenever they worked themselves into try-scoring positions.