Highlanders fall to Reds; Force beat Moana
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The Highlanders have fallen to their second straight defeat to start Round 3 of Super Rugby Pacific.
Jamie Joseph's side were outscored five tries to three in a 31-14 loss to the clinical and razzle-dazzle Queensland Reds at Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium on Friday night.
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After a spectacular Fraser McReight try to open the scoring - which featured a backward between-the-legs pass and two kick recoveries - the Reds went up 12-0 inside the half-hour when hooker Matt Faessler off the back of a lineout drive.
Highlanders halfback Adam Lennox answered back minutes later after hooker Jack Taylor burst up the middle but the Reds went into the sheds up 12 points after wing Tim Ryan went over.
The Highlanders closed within five again when No 8 Lucas Casey broke a couple of tackles and dragged another to the line in the 52nd minute, but Queensland answered with two tries in five minutes midway through the half to secure the points.
Earlier on Friday night, the Western Force picked up their first win of the season, defeating Moana Pasifika 35-19 at Pukekohe's Navigation Homes Stadium.
Former All Blacks wing George Bridge scored one of the Force's five tries as they led 35-7 after 70 minutes, before two late Moana tries.
In Round 4, the Highlanders host the Force at Dunedin's Forsyth Barr Stadium next Saturday (kick-off 4:35pm) .
Queensland Reds 31 (Fraser McReight, Matt Faessler, Tim Ryan, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Vaiuta Latu tries; Louis Werchon 2 con, Jock Campbell con) Highlanders 14 (Jack Taylor, Lucas Casey tries; Cam Millar 2 con). HT: 19-7