The Melbourne Rebels Women’s winless start to the Buildcorp Super W season continued as they succumbed to the Queensland Reds Women XV, 60-nil at Ballymore Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
In the sticky conditions in Brisbane, the Reds were quick to open their account through Sarah Riordan, after they capitalised on a Rebels error on the kick-off.
The Rebels scrapped to earn field position and dry up scoring opportunities through the next period of the half, before Lavinia Gould orchestrated some counter-attacking play from the defensive half, to send Sammie Treherne over the line in the 15th minute.
Lori Cramer then crossed just two minutes later through a steady build up after Riordan drew the defence and whipped it wide to Cramer to run in the third try.
Riordan then added her second in 22nd minute after the Reds pounced on a Georgia Cormick box kick and then transferring play to the right wing.
Riordan received the ball in an outnumbered scenario, before running unopposed for an easy five-pointer.
Despite winning the penalty count in the first half – due in part to the Reds’ ball handling errors – the Rebels were overpowered by the superior-sized home side forward pack who dictated play, possession and field position to take a 27-0 lead into half time.
Riordan completed her hat-trick just five minutes after the long break, before the Rebels’ afternoon got even more difficult when Tessa Brown was sent to the sin-bin for an apparent high shot in the 49th minute.
The Reds capitalised on the numerical advantage through Cheyenne Campbell and Alysia Lefau-Fakaosilea, as Reds’ fly half Lavinia Gould (15 points) set up repeat scoring opportunities.
The Rebels defence tried to stem the flow before Ivy Kaleta and Vuanimasei Rasolea ran in two late back-to-back tries to blow the Reds’ score beyond the half-century.
Cormick, Mere Robinson and Ashley Marsters battled wilfully for the visitors, however the Rebels’ first entry into the opposition’s 22 coming in the 78th minute told the story of the afternoon.
The day was further soured for the Rebels with flanker, Phoebe Linder-Patton assisted from the field with an ankle injury.
The Rebels Women will return home to AAMI Park on Good Friday, when they take on the ACT Brumbies Women.
The match, scheduled at 5.00pm, is the curtain-raiser to the Super Rugby clash between Melbourne Rebels and the Hurricanes next Friday.
RESULT – Buildcorp Super W, Round 3
Queensland Reds Women 60
Tries: Riordan 3, Treherne, Cramer, Campbell, Lefau-Fakaosilea, Kaleta, Rasolea
Cons: Gould 6
Pens: Gould
Melbourne Rebels Women 0
Tries: nil
Cons: nil
Pens: nil
