Suliasi Vunivalu scored his maiden Super Rugby try as his Queensland Reds ended their seven-year winless drought in Canberra on Saturday night.

Down 17-0 at one stage, Reds captain James O’Connor steered his side to a 40-38 win at the GIO Stadium, Canberra.

O’Connor said Vunivalu played well but still needs time to adapt to the game.

Reds head coach Brad Thorn said: “It was obviously a good feeling, we haven’t won here in seven years so they’re always tough games down this way.

“17-nil down, we like to make it hard on ourselves.

“We want to show respect to the Brumbies, they did some good things and we don’t want to take away from them but some dropped balls, offsides, we’ve got to cut that out of our game.

“For the guys, putting those plays together with the pressure of the clock and the score, and then that final play, Hunter (Paisami) backed himself to execute that grubber and Jordy (Petaia) scored.”

SCORERS

Reds 40: Tries: Vunivalu, Tupou, Wilson, Petaia; Conversions: O’Connor 4; Penalties: O’Connor 2.

Brumbies 38: Tries: Samu 2, Fainga’a 2, Fines-Leleiwasa; Conversions: Lolesio 4, Lonergan; Penalties: Lolesio.

Feedback: leonec@fijisun.com.fj