Melbourne - The Melbourne Rebels took advantage of 14-man Queensland Reds for only their second win over the struggling 2011 Super Rugby champions in Melbourne on Friday.
The Rebels won 23-15, scoring three tries to two, but the match swung on the 21st minute dismissal of Reds lock James Horwill to leave Queensland playing for the rest of the game a man down.
Former Wallaby skipper Horwill was sent off for the use of a swinging arm in a ruck for his second red card of the season.
There was further woe for the beleaguered Reds with star fly-half Quade Cooper injuring his right shoulder midway through the second half in only his second match back from a broken collarbone.
It also continued Queensland's wretched start to the season with their sixth loss in seven games for their worst start to a season since their wooden spooner season in 2007.
The Rebels, with flanker Sean McMahon and scrum-half Nic Stirzaker outstanding, trailed 12-3 at the time of Horwill's sending-off.
Horwill scored the opening try in the sixth minute and No.8 Jake Schatz crossed seven minutes later after good lead-up play by Liam Gill.
Immediately after Horwill's dismissal, the Rebels forward pack pushed over the try-line after a lineout win for Lopeti Timani to score.
Cooper kicked the Reds to a 15-10 lead but winger Tom English scored wide to level the scores at half time.
The Rebels dominated the Reds in the second half and the clinching try came through Stirzaker, who trailed through a break by winger Sefanaia Naivalu to score with 14 minutes left.
Mike Harris sealed the win with a penalty goal in the 71st minute.
"We're happy to get the result, but I can't say we would be too pleased with the performance," Rebels skipper Scott Higginbotham said.
"Credit to the Reds with 14 men. They really dug in and stuck into us.
"We needed that third try in the second half because it was just an arm wrestle, a stop-start game for 60-70 minutes, it was a good team try."
The loss will only add to the pressure on Reds coach Richard Graham as Queensland fielded 13 internationals against the Rebels.
"I think we responded well (to Horwill's dismissal) and we showed a lot of character, but unfortunately we didn't get the result we wanted," Reds skipper James Slipper said.
"Playing with a man down a few things had to change and I thought we adapted well to it at times, and we held in for a fair chunk of that game and we fell down at the end with that last try."
The Rebels have a bye next weekend, while the Reds head to South Africa and a match against the Northern Bulls in Pretoria.
AFP
