For all the hype of the “Back to Ballymore” match-up the Reds were just outclassed in the rain. A crowd of 15,681 turned out in torrential conditions to see if the Reds could put back to back wins, something they haven’t achieved since 2006, when they came up against an Auckland side on the improve last Saturday evening.

Early in the match Will Genia charged down a kick, which he held onto to run in for a five pointer that Quade Cooper converted putting the Reds faithful right in the game from the outset. They remained in that state until the last few minutes of the match with the game in the balance at 18~20 to the Blues and Cooper trying his best to conjure up the winning points. Once again a try at the death saw the match slip away as the Aucklanders ran away 27~18 winners much to the delight of the strong ex-pat Kiwi community in Brisbane.

Newly installed captain, Will Genia, proved his skills from half-back with sniping runs and decisive kicks throughout the match. His combination with Quade Cooper also provided for great passages of play that has seen one of the greatest advances in Reds play from 12 months ago. Daniel Braid played another outstanding role at open-side flanker against his old club; unfortunately reds speedster Rod Davies sustained a fractured cheekbone when he collided with Braid in a joint-tackle. Fullback Peter Hynes suffered multiple dislocations of his ring finger after impressive runs and will be struggling to make the field against last year’s tournament runners-up, the Chiefs, in Hamilton this Friday.

Ballymore is the traditional home of rugby union in Brisbane since the QRU officially took possession of the ground in February 1967. All the big matches are played there as you move up from Under 7s through all the age groups to the grades. Many famous test matches were played there including the 1987 World Cup semi-final between the NZ All Blacks and Wales. Last Saturday despite the rain a vocal crowd of 15,581 enjoyed the Super 14 spectacle with food and drink vendors not too far away. A crowd that would almost be lost in the cavernous Suncorp Stadium provided a great lift to the home team. Reds fullback Peter Hynes said, “You’d be hard pressed to get an atmosphere like that that anywhere in the world.”

“The noise generated when something good happens is amazing and the good feeling started from the warm-ups in front of the fans on the No. 2 field.

“If I had a say, I’d have most of the Reds games played there except for the big ones against the Waratahs or Brumbies at Suncorp Stadium.” Hynes further reiterated.

With the increase of home games next season in the expanded Super 15 competition, I am sure the authorities are taking careful note of last Saturday’s experiment. More games at Ballymore will be a good thing for the game in Brisbane with such strong competition from rival codes.

CJ