Rob Forsaith at Suncorp Stadium
Another scintillating performance from in-form Reds playmaker Quade Cooper has seen his side continue its stellar start to the 2010 Super 14 season with a record-breaking 50-10 win over the Western Force at Suncorp Stadium on Sunday.
Cooper's slick passing, educated footwork and precise kicking have been hallmarks of the Reds' renaissance this season, and that trend continued on the weekend.
The formerly much-maligned flyhalf lifted the home side to a 36-3 lead at halftime, laying the platform for their most comprehensive win ever at Super 14 level.
The 40-point routing of the Force, the Reds' first triumph over an Australian rival in almost two years, eclipsed the Brisbane-based franchise's previous best win, a 50-13 win over the Blues in 1996.
The Reds crossed twice in the first ten minutes and produced five tries in the opening half to bank a bonus point and seal back-to-back wins for the first time since 2006, much to the delight of the 20, 016-strong crowd.
With Cooper and Reds captain Will Genia dictating terms, centres Digby Ioane and Anthony Faingaa each grabbed a pair of tries before halftime while Scott Higginbotham also snared a double after the break.
The Force looked a different side early after the major break, dominating possession in the greasy conditions generated by the downpour at halftime, and they were rewarded in the 45th minute when Nick Cummins crossed for their first try in the corner.
The visitors' chances of further reducing the lead improved with Reds fullback Peter Hynes sent to the sin bin in the 43rd minute.
But any thoughts of a miraculous comeback were promptly quashed by a blockbuster try from Higginbotham in the 58th minute.
Force fullback Dane Haylett-Petty spilled the ball to Higginbotham after a crunching tackle from Anthony Faingaa, and the hulking flanker showed great pace in a 40m run, brushing off Force captain Nathan Sharpe before diving in the corner.
Cooper slotted his fifth conversion for the night before proving he was human with a forgettable handling error when a try beckoned, before finally being brought from the ground in the 64th minute by Reds coach Ewen McKenzie.
Unsparingly, Cooper's exit coincided with the spark going out of a game that the hosts had well and truly in the bag at halftime, but Higginbotham crashed over once more in the 75th minute to put the icing on the record-breaking win.
Earlier, a missed tackle from Haylett-Petty opened the door for Faingaa to start the carnage in the eighth minute after a sharp pass from Genia opened the gap.
The Reds had another try after five minutes through Luke Morahan, before Force young gun James O'Connor - who on a number of occasions was wrong-footed by the guile of Cooper - slotted a penalty goal to put his side on the scoreboard, but the Reds attacked the line ruthlessly and successfully.
The triumph, the Reds' third for the season, means the serial underachievers have already equalled their modest win tally from last year.
The Brisbane-based franchise will enjoy the bye next weekend before starting its tour of South Africa.
Reds 50
Tries: Faingaa (2), Ioane (2), Higginbotham (2), Morahan
Con: Cooper (5), Lucas
Pen: Cooper
Force 10
Tries: Cummins
Con: O'Connor
Pen: O'Connor