The Reds moved to fourth on the Super 12 log with a slick four-try display against the second from the bottom Cats, winning 27-15 at Ellis Park on Saturday.

The Cats, playing their first match at "home" (in the eight round of competition) were no match for the Reds and were always on the backfoot, thanks in chief to some brilliant work in the rucks and mauls, disrupting the Cats continuity with relative ease.

Such was the pressure exerted on scrumhalf Deon de Kock that he was replaced midway through the second half by Jimmy Powell.

In contrast, Reds scrumhalf Jacob Rauluni was brilliant at getting his line away at pace. Rauluni was omnipresent, always on hand to zip out a telling pass, while the Cats had to rely on the Lawrence Sephaka's and Andre Vos' to play the role of scrumhalf, with the Reds expertly sucking in the Cats linkman.

The Reds raced into a 22-8 half-time lead and after earning a bonus point for a fourth try after a brilliant individual effort by fullback Chris Latham, they took the foot off the pedal, no doubt looking ahead to Durban next week.

The Cats best player, flyhalf Andre Pretorius (pictured) gave a scant crowd a little something to savour with a charge down of a Latham kick, and an easy canter to dot the ball down. He converted but at 15-27, the Cats were dead and buried.

The Reds always looked in command with a strong first half display characterised by smart recycling and aggressive defence.

The Cats defence was evident of a team languishing in the basement of the log and they could not stop the Reds scoring three first half tries as the visitors ran up a 17-3 lead by the 28th minute and a 22-8 half-time advantage.

Pretorius and Flatley traded penalties early on as the two teams battled for ascendancy, with the Reds emerging the stronger outfit courtesy of a slick combination of forward dominance and speedy moving of the ball out wide.

Rauluni revelled behind a pack so well-organised that the ball never remained in a ruck for longer
than two seconds. Rauluni scored the first of the Reds' tries after darting in from five metres out and flyhalf Elton Flatley added the two points.

The Reds continued to impress around the fringes and in the 28th minute bullocking No 8 Toutai Kefu burst through for a smart try again converted by Flatley.

The Cats, showing rare continuity with ball in hand attacked with a little more patience and it paid dividends when hooker Delarey du Preez scored in the corner.

But the Cats' revival was cut short courtesy of a try by centre Junior Pelesasa, a late replacement for Daniel Herbert, after another backline move rubber-stamped with consummate class. Latham, replacing an injured Flatley at goal, missed the conversion but at 22-8 the Reds looked set for a vital away win.

Scorers:

Cats - Tries: Delaray du Preez, Andre Pretorius; Conversions: Andre Pretorius (2), Penalty: Pretorius (1).

Reds - Tries: Jacob Rauluni, Toutai Kefu, Junior Pelasasa, Chris Latham; Conversions: Elton Flatley (2); Penalty: Flatley (1).