Liam Gill (No.7) was a shining light on another tough night for the Reds © Getty Images

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It was another tough night for Queenland Reds as they gave up an early 12-3 lead to fall 23-15 to Melbourne Rebels at AAMI Park on Friday.

But there was some good news for the struggling Reds in the form of Liam Gill. The Reds openside flanker had an admirable game in a losing team, lifting himself after James Horwill was handed a first-half red card to provide endless resistance to the Rebels. He was a constant problem to the opposition at breakdown time.

The Australian Try of the Round also came from that match with Nic Stirzaker icing the Rebels' third win of 2015 some 15 minutes from full-time. The Rebels halfback was at the end of an excellent and well-constructed team try, which began with his pass to Mike Harris, that was followed by a clever midfield run by winger Sefanaia Naivalu. A clever backhand pass from Naivalu to Stirzaker led to the five-pointer.

GROWDEN MEDAL POINTS ROUND 8

Rebels v Reds

8: Liam Gill (Reds)

7.5: Sean McMahon (Rebels)

7: Nic Stirzaker (Rebels), Sefanaia Naivalu (Rebels), Luke Jones (Rebels), Will Genia (Reds). 6.5: Adam Thomson (Reds)

Brumbies v Cheetahs

7.5: Robbie Coleman (Brumbies), David Pocock (Brumbies)

7: Nic White (Brumbies), Scott Sio (Brumbies)

6.5: Sam Carter (Brumbies)

PROGRESS POINTS:

34: Mike Harris (Rebels)

33.5: Scott Higginbotham (Rebels)

28.5: Nic White (Brumbies), Nic Stirzaker (Rebels)

26: Sam Carter (Brumbies)

22.5: Will Genia (Reds)

21.5: Liam Gill (Reds)

21: Alby Mathewson (Force)

20.5: Scott Fardy (Brumbies), Bernard Foley (Waratahs), Nick Phipps (Waratahs), Ben McCalman (Force), Sean McMahon (Rebels)

20: Michael Hooper (Waratahs)

14.5: Jarrad Butler (Brumbies), Tevita Kuridrani (Brumbies), Kurtley Beale (Waratahs), Robbie Coleman (Brumbies), David Pocock (Brumbies)

14: Lopeti Timani (Rebels), Luke Jones (Rebels), Adam Thomson (Reds), Scott Sio (Brumbies)

13.5: Zac Holmes (Force)

8.5: Israel Folau (Waratahs)

8: Luke Burgess (Rebels), Ben Alexander (Brumbies)

7.5 Adam Thomson (Reds), Christian Lealiifano (Brumbies), Stephen Moore (Brumbies), Kyle Godwin (Force), Quade Cooper (Reds)

7: Rory Arnold (Brumbies), Jarrad Butler (Brumbies), Sam Talakai (Reds), Lachie Turner (Reds), Matt Toomua (Brumbies), Chris Alcock (Force), Matt Carraro (Waratahs), Adam Coleman (Force), Wycliff Palu (Waratahs), Jake Schatz (Reds), Dave Dennis (Waratahs), Sefanaia Naivalu (Rebels)

6.5: Angus Cottrell (Force), Henry Speight (Brumbies), Mitch Inman (Rebels), Joe Tomane (Brumbies), Tamati Ellison (Rebels)

6: Rob Horne (Waratahs)