Two-try Kefu shines in Red's win over Chiefs

MELBOURNE- Steve Kefu put behind him a doping controversy and partial facial paralysis to score two of the Red's five tries in their 39-25 win over the Chiefs in a Super 12 match in Brisbane on Saturday.

The Wallaby centre, cleared by the Australian Rugby Union (ARU) earlier this week of a doping offence after he took a steroid to treat a viral disorder, scored with a solo run from 30 metres out in the first 30 seconds.

He crossed again after a lucky bounce but later threw a long pass that was intercepted on halfway by Chiefs first five-eighths Glen Jackson, who scored and converted his own try after earlier kicking a penalty goal.

Elton Flatley's two penalty goals gave the home side an 18-10 lead at halftime.

Winger Sitiveni Sivivatu's 48th-minute try followed by a penalty goal from Jackson drew the Chiefs level at 18-all.

The Reds, however, pulled away with further tries from Chris Latham and Wendell Sailor. Sione Lauaki scored the Chiefs' third to narrow the gap to seven points before Todd Feather crossed for the home side's fifth try of the match.

Kefu was forced to withdraw from last week's opening round when the Reds lost 39-8 to the Highlanders in Invercargill.

The 24-year-old had taken Prednisone in oral form for Bell's Palsy, a viral disorder that had caused facial paralysis, and the Reds pulled him out of the Highlanders match because the drug was a prohibited substance when used "in competition".

The ARU, however, ruled that no action would be taken against Kefu following expert medical opinion that the drug provided the player's best chance of recovering from the rare form of facial paralysis.

No breach of IRB and ARU anti-doping provisions had occurred, the ARU said.

Scorers:

Queensland Reds - Tries: Steve Kefu (2), Chris Latham, Wendell Sailor, Todd Feather; Conversions: Elton Flatley (3), Feather; Penalties: Flatley (2).

Waikato Chiefs - Tries: Glen Jackson, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Sione Lauaki; Conversions: Jackson, David Hill; Penalties: Jackson (2).

Halftime: 18-10

- REUTERS