By Tom Primmer & Kev Nagle

GPS and the University of Queensland both continued their winning ways in Round 13 of the Hospital Challenge Cup, while two of their nearest rivals Wests and Brothers secured statement wins over the weekend. 

A BJ Oates hat-trick propelled UQ to their second win of the season over Easts in the Grand Final rematch, the Students putting another dent into the Tigers fading finals hopes. 

A gritty opening forty-minutes saw the Heavies take a 14-6 lead into the break, before Oates struck twice in the final 20-minutes to put the final score out to 36-13. 

Mac Grealy and Con Foley were among the Heavies’ best alongside Oates in the backline, while Angus Scott-Young also made an impressive return to Premeir Rugby in the back row. 

UQ assistant coach Elton Berrange was pleased with his side’s efforts after four days of lockdown in Brisbane in the days leading up to the clash. 

 “It was a really disrupted week, so it was fantastic to even get a game of rugby,” Berrange said. 

“We had a captains run on Saturday night which I think helped with the fluidity of our game. 

“With Easts style of footy and muddy conditions underfoot it wasn’t a surprise it was tight in the first half. 

“Easts did a great job of disrupting us at lineout time. The halftime message was about a few technical areas to correct but also to stay the course and grind it out.”

GPS overcame a defiant Sunnybank side to post a 36-15 win over the Dragons at the Bank on Sunday afternoon, clinching a sixth-straight win for the Gallopers. 

The home side showed plenty of fight in the first 20-minutes of both halves, with the strength and depth of Jeeps eventually overpowering Sunnybank in the final minutes of both stanzas. 

Matt Gicquel and Ratu Vio both scored doubles in impressive performances, while halves pairing James Tuttle and Jason Hofmeyr impressed with their game management and kicking prowess. 

“We were pleased with our defence structure and the physicality in our tackle,” GPS head coach Shane Arnold said. 

“It was very pleasing to absorb pressure, it shows a maturity in the team to be able to cope with those situations.”

At Crosby Park, Brothers secured the Bola-Kefu Shield with a comprehensive 48-28 victory over Souths. 

It was an incredible afternoon for winger Billy Bulley who scored four tries to himself, with the Brethren sitting just one-point adrift of the top-four in fifth spot. 

The Albion faithful had the chance to see two international scrumhalves in action, with former Wallaby Joe Powell (Brothers) and Fijian dynamo Frank Lomani (Souths) both featuring for their respective sides off the interchange bench.

It was an attacking masterclass from Wests in the final match of the round, as the Bulldogs accounted for Norths 63-22 at Sylvan Road. 

Queensland centre Isaac Henry made an immediate impact in his return from concussion, scoring two tries and collecting 24-points of his own, while skipper Connor Anderson also had a double as the Bulldogs consolidate their spot in fourth-place. 

Norths will go back to the drawing board this week and will look for an improved performance when they host Brothers, while Wests have another game in front of their home crowd against Easts. 

Sunnybank travel to St Lucia to face Uni, with GPS and Bond University going head-to-head at Yoku Road to round out the action.