RN Archives: Disputed goal helps Wests defeat Uni in 1985 Hospital Cup decider
WESTS GRAND FINAL skipper Julian Gardner was a relieved man when told of his team's premiership win at hospital
Gardner, 21, managed to raise a healthy smile at St Andrew's Hospital when he discovered the Bulldogs had won a gripping 10-7 decision over University.
Gardner was taken for X-rays following his bloodied exit after 23 minutes of last Sunday's grand final at Ballymore.
Examinations cleared the Queensland flanker of a cheekbone fracture but his nose was broken and his left eye was a puffy mess with barely a slit for vision.
Gardner, also suffering mild concussion, rejoined jubilant team-mates briefly at Ballymore before heading home for an early night, well away from the riotous celebrations at the Bulldogs' kennel at Toowong.
Gardner was felled in a "get square" after an earlier fracas which erupted from a lineout.
The grand final was a body-and-soul contest with Uni having every chance to annex the title.
As it turned out, Wests toasted their first premiership since 1977.
And all by the margin of a field goal which wasn't.