Queensland Post First Win Of Season Vs. Cheetahs

`We probably killed ourselves in the first half in terms of that bonus point,` Queensland captain Berrick Barnes said.

Australia's Queensland Reds moved off the bottom of the Super 14 standings on Sunday after thumping South Africa's Cheetahs 22-3 to register their first win of the season.

The Reds, playing their first match at home after starting the season with two on the road in South Africa, scored three unanswered tries to post a convincing victory on a hot and humid afternoon at Brisbane's Lang Park.

Fullback Mark McLinden scored the only try of the first half to give the Reds a 7-3 lead at the break, then outside centre Digby Ioane and Wallaby winger Peter Hynes both touched down in the second to wrap up the victory.

Test lock Hugh McMeniman also crossed in the second half but his try was disallowed after Quade Cooper was ruled to have illegally shoulder-charged an opponent in the lead-up, leaving the Reds a try short of collecting a bonus point.

"We probably killed ourselves in the first half in terms of that bonus point," Queensland captain Berrick Barnes said.

"We had a lot of opportunities but we didn't capitalise on them."

The Cheetahs opened the scoring with an early penalty from flyhalf Jaques-Louis Potgeiter but spent the rest of the match defending after struggling to get their hands on the ball.

"There's only one way to describe it, it was shocking from us," Cheetahs skipper Juan Smith said.