Hat-trick heroes Tom Robinson and Treyvon Pritchard produced the try punch to a 47-31 victory for the Queensland Reds Next Gen team on today’s visit to Canberra.
It was a fitting reflection of the versatile strengths of the Reds that three tries came from flanker Robinson marshalling strong maul drives to the line while centre Pritchard’s dancing feet produced three classy efforts in the backs.
The Reds still seemed to be on their morning flight from Brisbane for the opening nine minutes such was the complete dominance of possession by the ACT Brumbies.
Two converted tries gave the Brumbies a 14-0 lead in that period before the Reds wrestled back momentum in their first match of the Super Rugby Next Gen series.
Two powerful ball carries by prop Kingsley Uys was the first response from the Reds in the 10th minute
Fellow prop Levi Slater powered over from close range to get the Reds on the board after 12 minutes.
At the 15-minute mark, inside centre Pritchard took the first pass from a lineout win. He had no right to do more than crash up the ball but a strong fend, balance and acceleration shed three defenders. He bumped through two more on the tryline to score from 20m out with a fine try.
At 14-all, a match on damp turf was building into just the sort of contest that Super Rugby Next Gen was created for to guide Australia Under-20 selections.
The Brumbies kept firing shots. It took a superb covering tackle from Reds flyhalf Sam McGahan on the tryline to rattle Chace Oates into a lost ball as he tried to ground it for a five-pointer after a 60m kick return.
The Brumbies scored first after half-time to lead 19-14. It wasn’t until the 52-minute mark that the Reds led for the first time.
The blond-haired Robinson led as skipper with two tries in six minutes off well-set mauls from 5m lineout wins. Suddenly, it was 28-19 at the hour mark.
The Reds jumped clear with a classic counter-attacking try which belied the tricky handling conditions. Workhorse lock Will Ross seized a turnover. In a twinkling the ball had been relayed to winger Taione Taka on the left sideline.
He popped an inside ball to Pritchard, who again had to show balance and footwork to plunge over to finish the 55m attacking raid.
Robinson and Pritchard each added another in the closing stages to complete an upbeat win.
The Brumbies Under-20s had beaten the Reds U20s in 2024 and 2025 so the significance of the win was not lost on anyone in the Reds camp.
Pritchard and Robinson were obvious standouts. Replacement hooker Charlie Hollyman made some strong charges and his 60m kick downfield when shoeing a loose ball set up the field position for the second Robinson try.
Flanker Ilan Cloete stalled one Brumbies attack with an excellent turnover, locks Ross and Charlie Brosnan won clean lineout ball and replacement prop Trevor King uncorked the biggest tackle of the match.
Centre Frankie Goldsbrough's strong carry to open the second half showed the value of this match for him after an injury-disrupted 2025.
At flyhalf, McGahan was excellent. He made good decisions to pass or kick, always looked calm and his six-from-seven effort as goalkicker kept the Brumbies at bay.
While highly encouraging, a massive game awaits at Ballymore Stadium next Sunday afternoon when the NSW Waratahs visit after their 97-5 trouncing of the Western Force.
QUEENSLAND REDS NEXT GEN 47
Tries: Tom Robinson 3, Treyvon Pritchard 3, Levi Slater,
Conversions: Sam McGahan 6
Def
ACT BRUMBIES NEXT GEN 31
Tries: Harvey McLean, Ewald Kruger, Koko Salim, Jarvis Orr, Blake Miler
Conversons: Chase Oates 3
Half-time: 14-all
Venue: Brumbies HQ
