Ragged Reds hold on for win

It was nervous and edgy but the Queensland Reds held on to post a 22-16 victory over the Highlanders in Friday night's clash at Suncorp Stadium.

Reds skipper John Roe (2) and Clinton Schifcofske both crossed to give the Reds a seemingly unassailable 19-6 lead with 20 minutes to go before the Highlanders battled back to bring the margin to just three points with five minutes to play.

The Reds had been strong in defence and restricted the visitors to just three penalties before a horrible mix-up from a line-out allowed Highlander substitute Adam Thomson to cross for his first try in the 75th minute.

Sean Hardman's throw just five metres from his own tryline eluded the hands of both James Horwill and Rodney Blake to give a grateful Thomson his first try in three Super 14 starts and set up a nervy finish for the 19,183 fans in Brisbane.

But the win was sealed when Schifcofske slotted a penalty after the siren to give rookie coach Phil Mooney the points.

The home team had started with plenty of energy and took the lead through when Roe dove over from close range in the 15th minute after a good break by new recruit Digby Ioane.

A controversial try to Schifcofske four minutes later, when he appeared to be held up, made the lead 12-0 and the Highlanders could only get on the board through the boot of fly-half Daniel Bowden with a penalty five minutes before the break.

Reds fans had an anxious wait during the break on the fitness of star fullback Chris Latham, who appeared to have suffered a facial injury in a clash with Highlander Steven Setephano and didn't return for the first five minutes of the second term. He did take the field and play out the game, however.

The Highlanders had injury problems of their own with Lucky Mulipola departing the game early in the second term with what appeared to be a serious injury to his left arm.

Both Bowden and Schifcofske missed easy penalty shots in the opening minutes of the second half as the Highlanders worked their way back into the game.

The Reds were resolute at times in defence, denying the visitors after an amazing four minutes of possession on the Reds' goal line, eventually Paul Williams took a penalty to make the score 12-6 with 24 minutes to play.

The game appeared to have turned in the Reds' favour when Highlanders prop Jamie Mackintosh received a yellow card for a swinging arm in the 57th minute and just three minutes later Roe added his second try of the night to extend the lead.

Schifcofske's conversion gave the Reds an 11-point lead but Williams pulled the score to 19-9 with another penalty to set-up an interesting final 15 minutes.

Nobody epitomised the nerves more than Ioane who was impressive but will have lost possession too many times for Mooney.

Home fans may have had a feeling of déjà-vu as Thomson crossed with five minutes to go and Mike Delany converted to reduce the margin to three but the Reds held out to claim the points and start 2008 in winning form.

Next week the Reds face a much tougher test as they travel to Wellington to play the Hurricanes while the Highlanders stay in Australia to play the Brumbies in Canberra.

Reds 22
Tries: Roe (2), Schifcofske
Cons: Schifcofske (2)
Penalties: Schifcofske

Highlanders 16
Tries: Thomson
Cons: Delany
Penalties: Williams (2), Bowden