
Premier Rugby: Preliminary Final Wrap Up
UQ will meet Wests at Suncorp Stadium in next week’s Hospital Cup Grand Final after defeating Brothers in the preliminary final.
Catch a review of the game below.
UQ 36 v Brothers 22
UQ progress to their seventh consecutive Grand Final following a strong preliminary final win over Brothers at Bond University on Sunday.
Brothers were dealt a major blow early after flyhalf James O’Connor limped from the field just three minutes into the match. Things continued to go against the Brethren when Tayler Adams was sent off for ten minutes with roughly fifteen minutes to play in the first half. UQ capitalised on the depleted Brothers, scoring two tries within seven minutes.
Winger Mac Grealy received a beautiful Nicholas Jooste cut out ball to add the first five pointer before a lovely succession of clean backline hands saw Jock Campbell run under the posts to make it 12-3 at half-time to the Students.
The boys from Crosby Park needed an early second half spark and Lawson Creighton delivered by bursting through UQ’s defence to give Ash Watson a try within the first minute. Unfortunately for Brothers their momentum was short-lived with UQ adding the next four tries. Scrumhalf Kalani Thomas added the third of these five pointers with an outrageous forty-five metre individual effort that nailed the door shut on Brothers’ chances. The Brethren didn’t yield however, scoring twice in the final minutes to bridge the final margin to two converted tries.
The Students were ultimately far too strong for Brothers and will march into yet another Grand Final. Wests await UQ at Suncorp Stadium next week, and if their semi-final clash was anything to go bye than it should be a cracking battle to finish the season.
Standout Performers
Jock Campbell and Kalani Thomas provided spark all afternoon long for the Students. Campbell’s first half try gave UQ a nine-point buffer at the main break and his consistently classy backline touches were a point of difference throughout the duration of the preliminary final.
Scrumhalf Thomas’ pill for Brad Twidale reclaimed that same nine-point advantage midway through the second half. The No.9’s best was yet to come however, slicing through, accelerating past and goose stepping in front of weary Brothers’ tacklers in the 65th minute to all but guarantee UQ another Grand Final berth.