With finals out of reach, the NSW Waratahs were looking to finish their season off on a positive note when they hosted their traditional rivals, the Queensland Reds, at Allianz Stadium in their last match of the Super Rugby Pacific season.
And whilst NSW weren’t able to clinch a victory, they gave 12,018 of their loyal fans a tenacious display to thank them for their unwavering support.
Two bruising shots in defence from winger Dylan Pietsch signalled the Tahs’ intent from the onset, but a pick-and-drive try to Reds lock Seru Uru in the sixth minute gave the visitors an early lead.
Alas, that early intensity in defence waned slightly when Queensland scored two quickfire tries in the 18th and 21st minutes.
Firstly, a quick tap by Reds scrumhalf Tate McDermott caught the NSW defence napping, and then a nice interchange of passing down the right-hand edge saw outside centre Josh Flook cross untouched to give his side a commanding 19-point advantage at half-time.
The Waratahs came out with renewed vigour in the second stanza and were the first to post points just six minutes in. In his first starting match at flyhalf, Jack Bowen threw a lovely pass to put a rampaging Jed Holloway through a gap to score.
Inside centre Hunter Paisami hit back swiftly for the Reds, but the Tahs replied once more with hooker Jay Fonokalafi muscling his way over.
Bowen then capped a fine individual game with a try of his own, when he pounced on a nicely timed grubber kick in the in-goal from Joey Walton in the 63rd minute of play.
“I don’t think I’ve felt anything like that before,” Bowen said of his try.
“As a kid you see all these amazing tries scored here so to have my name on one of those tries was pretty special."
A brilliant offload by Izaia Perese then put Pietsch into space and the speedy winger raced 20 metres to level scores in the 71st minute. A clutch conversion from close to the sideline from Bowen then put the Waratahs in front by two.
Unfortunately, a 48-metre penalty goal from Tom Lynagh three minutes later put Queensland back in front by one point.
With just a minute left on the clock, Bowen had a chance to clinch the game for the Tahs. He bravely stepped up to the plate but unfortunately, his kick sailed wide, resulting in a 27-26 victory for the Reds.
Bowen looked impressive in his first outing in the number ten jersey and looks primed for bigger and better things in 2025.
“As a kid coming here watching all the legends play it’s pretty special to be involved myself now,” Bowen said.
“I had 50-odd friends and family members in the crowd here tonight. It’s a night I’ll always remember, but it’s just shattering not to get the win.
“Obviously our season comes to an end which is a disappointing way to finish, but to fight our way back from 24-5 down shows the character within the team.
“It hasn’t been the year we planned for but it’s still so special to be a part of the Waratahs team in its 150th year.”
Queensland Reds 27
Tries: Seru Uru, Tate McDermott, Josh Flook, Hunter Paisami
Goals: Lawson Creighton 2/4
Penalty Goals: Tom Lynagh 1/1
NSW Waratahs 26
Tries: Jed Holloway, Jay Fonokalafi, Jack Bowen, Dylan Pietsch
Goals: Jack Bowen 3/4
Penalty Goals: Jack Bowen 0/1
Crowd: 12, 018
