Reds seal spot in Super 15 final

The Reds qualified for their first Super Rugby final since 1995 with an entertaining win over the Blues in their semi-final clash at Suncorp Stadium.

Rod Davies became the first player in the franchise's history to score a hat-trick in Super Rugby, dazzling the crowd of 44,490 with an intercept try in the first half before sealing the result with two in quick succession in the second.
The win guarantees the Reds hosting rights for the grand final next Saturday against the winner of the Crusaders-Stormers match.
Quade Cooper arguably kept the scoreline closer than it should have been with a wayward three from seven with the boot but his playmaking at five-eighth was consistently sensational and he looked a serious danger every time he touched the ball.
The match had been advertised as a clash between the competition's two most expansive sides and both teams gave their utmost to fulfil the billing.
The Reds proved the better side on the night as they executed with far greater consistency and Cooper led his men to a clear victory in the high-powered backline battle.
Queensland looked the better outfit for the majority but the visitors had their moments and at one point looked to have seized the impetus after scoring a try right on half-time and closing to within three points with a penalty immediately after the break.
Rugged Reds flanker Beau Robinson made a brilliant return from a long-term elbow injury having a massive influence with typical strength and hunger at the breakdown.
Backs Digby Ioane and Anthony Faingaa were also strong in their first games back from injury.
Both sides had chances in the opening exchanges, but it was Davies who registered first points, springing from his own to intercept a Lachie Munro pass and flying the length of the field.
Jake Schatz was given an earlier than expected start for the Reds, as veteran number eight Radike Samo was forced from the field with a neck injury midway through the first half.
Blues and Reds went blow for blow at an incredible pace before magic man Cooper sparked Queensland's second on the half-hour mark.
Collecting the ball in his own half, Cooper looked trapped against the sideline, but he fended off Munro with contempt, bamboozled Stephen Kenny and ran 30 metres before sending Ben Tapuai in to score with a brilliant offload.
Leading by 15 after Cooper's first successful penalty, the Reds saw a mountain of good work undone when Blues second-rower Chris Lowrey registered his side's first points with a soft try after the half-time hooter.
The visitors started the second with all the momentum, and they quickly reduced the margin to five when Luke McAlister struck true with a penalty taken right on halfway.
The Reds were desperate for some ball and when they had a lineout in attacking territory it was Davies and Cooper linking up for more points.
Cooper's long cut-out landed straight on Davies' chest, and the winger sped through a broken Blues line to score.
A reckless short kick from Jared Payne fell to Digby Ioane and put the Reds back into attacking territory, and after great build-up from the forwards, they shuffled the ball wide for Davies to dive over for his third.
Surprising almost all in attendance, Cooper slotted the sideline conversion attempt, taking the score to 27-13.
Trailing by two converted tries, the Blues were full of desperation and looked certain to take the game to the wire, but after creating an overlap in the left-hand corner with 10 minutes to play, full-back Payne spilled the final pass, essentially killing off any chance of a fightback.
Cooper put the final nail in the coffin with a field goal five minutes from full time.