The Brumbies have gone down to the Queensland Reds 24-22 at Suncorp Stadium in yet another classic clash between the sides.
The Brumbies led the game until the 75th minute but a James O’Connor penalty goal gave the Reds victory.
Folau Fainga’a got the scoring started on the night, a brilliant rolling maul giving the hooker a chance to dart down the blindside.
A loose pass from the Reds then found Tom Banks inside the Brumbies red-zone and the fullback raced home to give the visitors a 12-0 lead.
The Reds responded with two penalty goals before Nic White nailed a penalty goal from inside his own half to give the Brumbies a 15-6 lead at the break.
The nine-point advantage was quickly lessened with the Reds Josh Flook scoring the first try of the second half.
O’Connor’s conversion made it a two-point game, but the Brumbies moved swiftly to re-establish their lead, Tom Wright crossing out wide after some slick hands in midfield.
Lolesio’s pint-point conversion made it 22-13, the Brumbies final points of the evening.
The Reds kept hunting and finally had their breakthrough when O’Connor hoisted a kick to the corner and Jordan Petaia leaped highest to score. Â
Both teams defended admirably, but it was the Reds work at the breakdown and their dominant scrum which would tell the tale.
A penalty at the scrum saw O’Connor give the Reds the lead, and some stout defence and ruck pressure from Brad Thorn’s side held the Brumbies out at the death, the final score 24-22.
The Brumbies now look to a tough visit to Melbourne to take on the Rebels.
Plus500 Brumbies 22Â (T: Fainga’a, Banks, Wright; C: Lolesio 2; P: White)
Queensland Reds 24 (T: Flook, Petaia; C: O’Connor; P: O’Connor 4)Â