Super Rugby: Quade Cooper guides the Reds to third successive win
The Reds picked up their third successive win as Quade Cooper guided them to a 23-13 victory over the Rebels.
Last Updated: 08/03/13 1:26pm
Having lost their opening game of the season to the Brumbies, the Queensland franchise have responded in the best possible way with successes against the Waratahs, Hurricanes and now the Rebels.
Cooper weighed in with 13 points from the boot - via three penalties and two conversions - while he got the talented back division moving forward.
Ben Tapuai and Nick Frisby crossed for tries for the 2011 champions, who have now picked up 12 points to keep the pressure on Australian Conference leaders the Brumbies.
Footwork
Some nifty footwork from the ever-improving Tapuai saw the centre cross for his third try of the season, while Frisby went over just after the interval - with the No 9 sprinting away after good work from Digby Ioane and Anthony Faingaa.
The Reds really should have had at least one more try but Saia Faingaa spilt the ball over the line as he was tackled by Nick Phipps - while Ioane was held up in the second half.
The missed chances weren't limited to the Reds, though, with Rebels skipper James O'Connor failing with three penalty attempts.
O'Connor did slot over two penalties and conversion while he had set Lachlan Mitchell up for Melbourne's only try. Back at fly-half, O'Connor drew in the Reds defence before popping the ball up for Mitchell to scythe through.
However despite battling bravely, the Rebels were left with nothing to show for their efforts.