The Queensland Reds have been left wanting more despite ending the Brumbies' unbeaten start to the Super Rugby Pacific season.
The hosts defied another red card in a 21-7 triumph that saw them draw level with their Australian rugby rivals at the top of the ladder, three weeks out from their first clashes with New Zealand opposition.
Both sides had the fumbles in a sloppy rematch of last year's domestic final, while Reds backrower Tuaina Tualima saw red when his cleanout hit James Slipper high.
A try to Fraser McReight during the 20-minute period when they were a man down proved crucial though in a game which, both coaches agreed, lacked polish.
"We left a lot of points out there," Reds' coach Brad Thorn said.
"Where we want to go in this comp, we've got to be better. Those opportunities, loose carries, possessions.
"It's not some little thing between us and the Brumbies. It's trans-Tasman, we want to compete."
Tualima, who only started when Liam Wright hurt his ankle in the warm-up, followed prop Dane Zander in seeing red a week earlier, while Taniela Tupou was cited for a similar cleanout against the NSW Waratahs a fortnight ago.
Brumbies backrower Rob Valetini and replacement back Cam Clark, who scored the game's first try, were both shown yellow cards for a high tackle and deliberate knock down, respectively, in the second half.
Clark's effort put the Brumbies up 7-3 but the Reds, despite constant fumbles, stayed in the game thanks to scrum penalties and twice stopping the visitors' potent rolling maul on their line.
"It was dreadful, as simple as that," Brumbies coach Dan McKellar said.
"It only went for 80 minutes, is probably (the only pleasing aspect).
"I don't think it was a very good game of footy ... I get really frustrated with people who bag the game but I think both teams will review that and understand we need to be whole lot better."
Jordan Petaia played a full game at fullback for the first time, his fourth-consecutive start yielding both brilliant and blooper moments.
A clean break before halftime ended when he was unable to link with support, while he kicked long and confidently in general play and caught a bomb that led to McReight's try.
But his performance was soured by several handling bloopers, a knock-on robbing a wide-open Filipo Daugunu of a certain try, moments before the winger did cross in his 50th Super Rugby game for the eventual match-sealer.
