Denied! Jono Lance becomes the latest victim of the charged down conversion

Denied! Jono Lance becomes the latest victim of the charged down conversion

The Queensland Reds edged the Western Force in a 31-24 thriller on Friday as they managed to keep their unbeaten start to the Super Rugby AU season in place.

Brad Thorn's Reds rallied from 14-nil down in as many minutes to lead 21-19 at the half-time break.

Western Force pivot Jono Lance was in fine form in the first half as he set the visitors back in attack with a chip-kick bouncing kindly for centre Marcel Brache, who sent the ball wide to Byron Ralston for a 14th-minute try, converted by Prior.

After the Reds fought back to get back into the game, the Force looked to have levelled things going into the break when winger Byron Ralston notched a try-saving intercept in the 37th minute.

But with the Force's regular kicker and captain Prior off the field injured, Lance took over the kicking duties and had the change to level it 21 apiece with a shot in front of goal.


However, Lance did not learn from Otere Black last week, who was charged down by Braydon Ennor, as he took his shot at goal too close to the Reds' tryline.

Speedster Daugunu raced off the line to charge down the conversion attempt to preserve a 21-19 lead at the break.


What made it worse for Lance is that the former Worcester Warriors flyhalf is that he was set to bring up 100 Super Rugby points with his conversion.

Before moving to the Worcester Warriors in 2017, Lance racked up 99 points between stints with the Reds and Western Force and could have raised the bat if it weren't for the Fijian flyer.

Lance had another chance to bring up three figures but again came agonisingly close as his attempt to convert the Force's final try ricocheted off the upright.

James O'Connor slotted a penalty soon after to push the Reds' lead out to 7 points which they would hold onto before Jeremy Thrush knocked the ball on while the Force went in search of try to send the game into golden point extra time.

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