Premier Rugby: Round 11 Wrap Up
Wests, GPS, Bond and UQ all secured round eleven victories in wet conditions over the weekend.
Catch a review of the action below.
Easts 21 v GPS 26
A second half fightback saw GPS defeat Easts at Bottomley Park on Saturday.
Easts dominated the opening half of the contest to go into the main break leading 21-7. Lock Aidan Leeming scored the first five pointer for the home side when he charged down a Mitch Treleaven box kick near the line. Winger Max Baker capitalised on a GPS error to dive over in the corner for Easts’ second.
The second half saw momentum reverse in GPS favour as the away side ran in three unanswered tries to run over the top of Easts. Poasa Niumataiwalu, who scored the lone Galloper’s first half try in his starting debut, also set up his teammate Veresa Mataitini to score the matchwinner in the right corner.
GPS victory sees them keep in touch with the top four ahead of a rescheduled clash with Sunnybank next week while Easts will have to contend with competition leader’s Wests in two weeks’ time.
Bond 40 v Sunnybank 0
Bond claimed a comprehensive victory over Sunnybank on the Gold Coast over the weekend.
There were minimal opportunities for both sides in the first half thanks to the wet conditions. Bond earned a penalty try from their scrum dominance in the opening ten minutes in the only score of the first forty.
Flyhalf Tyler Campbell scored two special tries in the second half to stretch Bond’s winning margin. A Campbell double pump fooled Sunnybank’s defenders in the 43rd minute before the playmaker chased Max Dowd’s kick to slide over in the wet for his second.
Bond’s next outing will be against GPS in a fortnight while Sunnybank will also face the Gallopers this coming weekend.
Brothers 20 v Wests 24
Wests have extended their lead at the top of the table after a nail-biting win over Brothers at Crosby Park on Saturday afternoon.
Honours’ were even in the first half as the two sides went into the main break at 10-10. Brothers’ hooker Dustin Henegan scored the opening five pointer before Wests’ Connor Anderson and Harry Higgins crossed the line.
A special Jeral Skelton run opened the door for Wests’ winger Ilikena Vudogo to scoot over twenty minutes into the second half. Brothers’ Jaiden Christian gave his side a three-point lead after scoring in the 72nd minute. Wests’ drew a penalty try after the final siren from their scrum to claim a classic win that sent the Bulldog’s players into raptures.
Wests will clash with Easts in a fortnight while Brothers’ battle Souths next weekend in a rescheduled round four fixture.
Norths 15 v UQ 26
UQ returned to the winner’s list with a victory over Norths at Hugh Courtney Oval.
The Student’s stamped their authority on the match with three unanswered tries in the opening forty. Hooker Cameron Flavell scored twice in the early stages before a powerful run from No.8 Nuku Swerling made it 19-3 at half-time.
Norths’ displayed their attacking prowess early in the second half when Harry Langbridge split UQ’s defences and offloaded to inside centre Jack Peoples who finished off. The Eagle’s continued to give their home fans something to cheer about when a strong Mitchell Wood carry led to a George Stokes’ try just prior to full time.
UQ scored after the eightieth minute to secure the win and will play Souths in a fortnight while Norths’ will pursue their first win against Easts next weekend.
