The ACT Brumbies doused another piece of Super 12 brilliance from Queensland fullback Chris Latham to win a bruising battle with the Reds in the rain at Ballymore.

Latham ignited a capacity crowd when he scored a remarkable solo try after just 21 seconds but the Brumbies rallied, playing almost all of the second half with only 14 men in the 22-19 victory.

Queensland flyhalf Julian Huxley, who was only called into the team this morning when Elton Flatley was ruled out with a knee injury, had the chance to tie the game but he missed penalty goal attempts in the 76th and 79th minutes.

The second failed attempt hit the right upright and bounced away, giving Andrew Slack a disappointing debut as Queensland coach.

But the Reds had their chances in a match marred by sloppy handling in the driving rain after ACT prop Ben Darwin was sent from the field in the 47th minute.

Darwin was marched after receiving his second yellow card and the Brumbies, coming off a 50-point drubbing in their last trial match, looked shaky trailing 10-9.

But the 2002 finalists responded in the next minute when Joe Roff, playing his first match after a year in France, scorched over for a try after receiving a pass from Wallaby halfback George Gregan.

With Stirling Mortlock landing all six attempts at goal, the Brumbies secured four points for their victory and increased their Super 12 record against Queensland to 8-1.

The match was played in appalling conditions and referee Stuart Dickinson did nothing to lighten the mood of the crowd with a spate of penalties, handing out five yellow cards including one to Reds captain Toutai Kefu in the 69th minute.

Brumbies coach David Nucifora, while delighted with the gritty win, wasn't as impressed with the typical refereeing confusion which seems to mar the first round of every season.

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