Rugby: Reds in last gasp victory

The Reds team celebrate with Dom Shipperley of the Reds after he scored the winning try. Photo / Getty Images

Waratahs 21 Reds 25

Not even Trevor Mallard could have sold tickets to this match at an inflated price - not unless you bought them just before Dominic Shipperley's thrilling last-second try stole the game.

Prior to that, the only things inflated in this game were the ball and the expectations - last year's Super Rugby champions against the sleeping giant of Australian rugby primed to make a real challenge for the title this time; finally.

Perhaps it was the injuries. The Reds were missing Quade Cooper, hooker Saia Fainga'a and winger Rod Davies but simply couldn't take advantage of the possession and field position they dominated. It was typical early season rugby - with mistakes leading to more errors and two sides cancelling each other out with their lack of accuracy and efficiency.

The Waratahs were missing even more players and injuries to the likes of Drew Mitchell and Lachie Turner gave their three-quarter line a distinctly rookie look. Still, they scored the only try of the first half, even if it was a mistake, followed by an error, accompanied by an almost embarrassed Wycliff Palu.

The Waratahs forced a scrum close to the line but lost the ball. Reds halfback Will Genia claimed it, tried to plough upfield but was stripped by his opposite, Sarel Pretorius and the ball sat out in the open as bodies swirled around it - until Palu picked it up and waltzed over.

If that was representative of a halting and mistake-ridden half, it also showed the difference between the Reds 2011 and this year's vintage. Last year, they played with composure, discipline and patience. Last night, they had a PhD in turnovers.

The Reds led most of the way because of the goalkicking of former North Harbour and Blues reject first five-eighths Mike Harris. He made the Waratahs pay for the penalties they earned, mostly in the breakdowns. Much of the second half was like the first - make metres and then lose the ball to the other side - until first five-eighths Daniel Halangahu finally slipped the Reds defence and, from the ensuing rucks, Pretorius wriggled over to make it 21-15.

Harris kept the Reds in it with his sixth penalty but the Waratahs finished strongly and had the game in the bag before the Reds broke out in one last effort, even though they had looked about as penetrative as a cork previously. But Shipperley broke free with some blazing pace, beating several defenders in a 50m run to the line.

Waratahs 21 (W. Palu, S. Pretorius tries; D. Halangahu con, 3 pen), Reds 25 (D. Shipperley try; M. Harris con, 6 pen). Halftime: 8-12