Highlanders thrash Reds
20/02/2004 10:57 - (SA)
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Invercargill, New Zealand - Lock Filipo Levi scored two tries as the Otago Highlanders beat the Queensland Reds 39-8 in the opening match of the Super 12 tournament on Friday.
Levi scored in the early minutes of both halves as Otago, led by former All Black captain Anton Oliver, won by five tries to one to take a maximum five points.
The Highlanders stormed to a 27-0 lead playing with a powerful southerly wind and driving rain at their backs in the first half, then held out the Reds with gritty defense in the second.
"It was quite windy and it was all about getting down their end of the field, applying pressure and forcing them to make mistakes," said Oliver. "We did that."
"We had hail before the match and rain during it and it was pretty cold. Their guys have come from 35 or 40 degrees (Celsius) in Brisbane and I don't think they were keen to be here, quite frankly."
The Highlanders constructed their halftime lead with three first-half tries and put the match beyond the reach of the Reds, who dominated both territory and possession, when they scored the first try of the second half.
Levi scored the first try of the season after only four minutes as the Highlanders began with enthusiasm. They followed up with tries to Aisea Tuilevu, to lead 14-0 after 13 minutes, and Josh Blackie to lead 27-0 ten minutes from halftime.
"It couldn't have been a better start," Oliver said.
"We started the first 10 minutes with real intensity and I was just ecstatic with the way the guys performed."
Otago turned apprehensively to face the wind in the second half and conceded an early penalty, kicked by Elton Flatley, which cut their lead to 27-3.
But Levi's second try, from a well-worked blindside move, gave them a 32-3 lead and a buffer they carried through most of the second half.
Scores:
OTAGO HIGHLANDERS 39 (Filipo Levi 2, Aisea Tuilevu, Josh Blackie, Sam Harding tries; Tony Brown 3 conversions, 2 penalties; Nick Evans conversion) def. QUEENSLAND REDS 8 (Sean Hardman try; Elton Flatley penalty).
Edited by Duane Heath
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