By Liam Cook

Jeeps, UQ and Easts all claimed first round wins on the opening weekend of the Premier Rugby season, while Norths and Souths couldn’t be separated.

As we’ll do every week in 2022, Rugby News has wrapped up all the action below.

Norths 20 v Souths 20

Norths and Souths couldn’t be split in a 20-20 draw at Hugh Courtney Oval.

Norths captain Will Rogers crossed in the opening minutes to give the Eagles the perfect start to their season.

But Souths quickly wrestled back momentum and piled on three tries in ten minutes, courtesy of some fancy footwork by outside backs Seb Hanna and Mone Ma’afu and led 15-7.

Souths scored their fourth try through No.8 Sam Mataafa midway through the second half.

But goalkicking kept the Eagles in the contest. Norths flyhalf Jacob Prideaux converted both of the home side’s tries and added two penalty goals while Souths failed to convert any of their four five pointers.

Prideaux’s second penalty goal in the 76^th minute levelled the scores at 20-20 in a match both sides probably thought they should have won.

Brothers 28 v GPS 34

GPS outlasted Brothers to open their season with a 34-28 victory in another classic and fiery tussle between the two rivals.

Jeeps jumped out of the games quickly, scoring three unanswered tries inside the opening 20 minutes to claim a 19-0 lead.

But ill-discipline cost the visitors late in the first half, with two yellow cards allowing Brothers back into the match.

Brothers recruit Taylor Adams set up the pick of Brothers two first half tries, kicking across the field to Niven Longapoa to score and head to the break down by just 5 points.

The two sides traded tries in a tight second half. Jeeps winger Josh Collins crossed in the 60^th minute to give his side a narrow lead before flyhalf Jason Hofmeyr nailed a field goal to seal a 34-28 win.

University of Queensland 27 v Wests 22

St Lucia hosted the first west-side derby of the season between last year’s premiers UQ and a brave Wests outfit.

The Bulldogs started brilliantly scoring the first two tries, before UQ hit back with two of their own to claim a 17-15 lead.

19-year old Keynan Tauakipulu then scored what could be one of the tries of the season, weaving his way through traffic and leaving UQ fullback Connor Clancy clutching at thin air.

UQ hit back again and levelled the scores in the 66^th minute, then scored the match winning try through Tom Molloy in the final minutes to seal a 27-22 victory.

Easts 29 v Sunnybank 0

New coach Ben Mowen started his tenure in fine style as Easts delivered a dominant performance against Sunnybank at David Wilson field.

After a scoreless opening 25 minutes, Easts No.9 Will Kirk opened the scoring for the home side.

Jake Pappin then kicked behind the Sunnybank defensive line and found Matt Smith who scored Easts’ second try.

Hooker Zac Crothers then capitalised on two Sunnybank yellow cards, scoring twice to seal the 29 point victory.