Summary It was a test of character for the 2011 champions.
BRISBANE (AFP) - Queensland Reds put a disruptive week behind them to pull off their first win of the Super 15 rugby season with a grinding 18-6 victory over Western Force in Brisbane on Saturday.
The Reds, coming off a heavy loss to the ACT Brumbies and off-field dramas with high-profile recruit Karmichael Hunt, carved out a two tries to nil win over their Australian rivals.
It has been a tumultuous start to the new season for the Reds with a crippling injury toll, the heavy first-up loss and Hunt due to appear in court next month on charges of supplying cocaine.
Hunt stood down from Saturday s game and the Reds were forced into another late change when their other big-name signing James O Connor was forced out with an injury during the game warm-up.
It was a test of character for the 2011 champions and with Wallaby scrum-half Will Genia and former All Black back-rower Adam Thomson leading the way, Queensland employed a simple game plan and bustled Force into error.
Lachie Turner, who switched from the wing to fullback to cover for Hunt s loss, scored the opening try five minutes before halftime after a run from Chris Kuridrani off a Force clearing kick.
The Reds clinched the game when their concerted pressure in repeated scrums earned them a penalty try in the 55th minute after the referee lost patience with Force conceding multiple penalties.
Turner finished with 13 points from a try, a conversion and two penalties.
The Force s points came from two penalties from fly-half Sias Ebersohn.
"It was down to character. We had a very simple game plan as far as tactics, we didn t want to play any rugby in our half because of the wet weather and field position and I think that worked very well," Genia said.
"At times it can be aimless and a bit boring but if you stick to it you get rewarded and I m very happy with the effort.
"The boys have worked tirelessly on making our scrum a weapon and lucky that it was a penalty try."
Force skipper Sam Wykes criticised his team s set-piece in the defeat.
"Our set-piece was ordinary, we turned over ball at scrum and lineout time and we just weren t good enough," Wykes said.
"The Reds stepped up tonight, they were quality, they were in there for the fight and we didn t match it tonight."
The Reds will be away to the Otago Highlanders in New Zealand next week, while the Force will be at home to the Wellington Hurricanes.
