Carter Gordon delivers as Reds claim thrilling win over Waratahs

The Queensland Reds have burst to life late, two long-range tries sealing a third straight Super Rugby Pacific win after the NSW Waratahs had ground them close to submission.

Saturday’s Suncorp Stadium clash was a dour affair for almost an hour, before a Carter Gordon double and another dazzling five-pointer for Isaac Henry got the Reds home 26-17.

Gordon hopped over a would-be tackler in broken play and showed impressive speed to burn around Harry Potter for the match-winner from 55m out with six minutes to play.

Henry linked up with rampaging winger Filipo Daugunu, who had weaved through traffic after substitute Treyvon Pritchard’s earlier line-break had shaken things up.

Earlier Gordon finished a play set up by another line-break and flick pass from in-form fullback Jock Campbell.

Gordon’s bomb in the first half led to a Harry Wilson try as the Test flyhalf, who scored last week’s match-winner against the ACT Brumbies, again showed his wares after a stint in the NRL.

Down 19-17, Waratahs centre Triston Reilly thought he’d put his men back in front.

But replays showed his spectacular diving effort was for nothing, with the ball planted on the sideline in the dead-ball area.

Those highlights came thick and fast after an opening hour dominated by box kicks from Reds scrumhalf Louis Werchon and some rudderless attack at both ends.

Scores were locked 7-7 at halftime before impressive Tahs hooker Ioane Moananu found the line.

Potter also scored to put the visitors up by five before the Reds came to life.

The hosts improved to 3-1 before next Saturday’s trip to Fiji, where they’ve never won, while the Waratahs dropped to 2-2 but showed far more resolve than in their 59-19 loss to the Hurricanes a week ago.

Charlie Gamble was a late out for the visitors with an injury, replaced by English product and first try-scorer Jamie Adamson.