Goromaru injured as Reds edge Sunwolves, Chiefs crush Rebels to go top of Super Rugby

Queensland Reds back-rower Curtis Browning scored two tries to cancel out two from Sunwolves Kiwi import Derek Carpenter as the Brisbane outfit beat their Tokyo-based visitors 35-25 on Saturday.

Japan’s Ayumu Goromaru started at fullback for the Reds and contributed two penalties and two conversions before going off injured in the 57th minute.

Many among the crowd of 19,073 – the Reds’ biggest this season including hundreds of travelling fans from Japan – were there to see Goromaru face off against some of his Brave Blossoms team-mates for the first time since the Rugby World Cup.

Goromaru appeared to hurt his right shoulder trying to prevent Sunwolves lock Liaki Moli from scoring a try that levelled the scores at 25-25.

The Reds got off to a strong start and were leading 10-0 after 16 minutes, but the Sunwolves kept pace and trailed by just four points at the interval.

The home side kicked off the second period with Browning’s second try of the match to lead 22-13, but the Japanese tyros hit back with a try from Carpenter followed by that dramatic score from Moli.

The Reds finished stronger with a converted try to lock Cadeyrn Neville and a penalty from Jake McIntyre to make the game safe.