Brothers are through to the 2016 BLK Queensland Premier Rugby Grand Final
The 2016 BLK Queensland Premier Rugby major semi-final has seen Brothers earn their place in this year’s grand final, breaking University of Queensland’s 15-game win streak with a 18-10 victory of Ballymore.
Brothers dominated proceedings in a physical encounter and outscored the minor-premiers two-tries-to-one to secure the win.
In the minor semi-final, Sunnybank put in a brilliant first-half performance and withstood Souths’ second half comeback to claim a 37-24 win, which will see them face University in the preliminary final next Sunday, for their chance to face Brothers for the Hospital Cup.
Rights free photos form the two matches are available for downland, photo credit QRU/Meggie Whitchurch: http://bit.ly/2a7nSM3
Major Semi-Final – University of Queensland v Brothers
Brothers are through to their first BLK Queensland Premier Rugby grand final since 2012, after claiming a clinical 18-10 upset over University of Queensland at Ballymore.
After bowing out in the minor semi-final for the past three years, Brothers captain and stalwart of the club, Nathanuel Gendle, was happy to see his beloved club back in the grand final.
“The young players who have benefitted from those experiences. We’ve gone through tough losses and hard games to go straight through to the major semi-final this year and to go straight through to the grand final is huge for the club,” Gendle said.
The Red Heavies usually dominant backrow were met by an aggressive and accurate Brothers forward pack, who forced University into a number handling errors.
Mitch Felsman slotted an early penalty goal, but University sharp shooter Tom Pincus responded with a three pointer of his own to level the score at 3-all early in the match.
University crossed for the first try when winger through winger Jock Campbell, before Brothers and St.George Queensland Reds prop, Taniela Tupou, busted his way through the Red Heavies defence.
A late first-half penalty goal to Mitch Felsman handed the Brethren a 13-10 lead as the teams headed into the sheds. `
Early in the second-half Brothers began to dominate University at set piece, but couldn’t convert pressure into points. Unsuccessful penalty attempts from both Felsman and Pincus kept the scores at 13-10.
Brothers finally found a chink in University’s defence, with winger George Partridge crossing in the corner with 10 minutes remaining, giving the Brethren an 18-10 lead.
Brothers held on and handed University their first defeat since Round 1 of the season. Gendle was glad his side executed their gameplan.
“I feel really good about the game. We stuck to our gameplan, limited Uni’s opportunities, which we knew we had to do, and came away with the win in the end,” he said.
Tupou was name the Musashi High Performer (Man of the Match) for Brothers.
University will now face Sunnybank in the preliminary final next week at Ballymore.
Major Semi Final: Brothers 18 (T Tupou, G Partridge tries; M Felsman con, 2 pens) def University of Queensland 10 (J Campbell try; T Pincus con, pen)
Minor Semi-Final – Souths v Sunnybank
Sunnybank have booked their place in the BLK Queensland Premier Rugby preliminary Final, securing a thrilling 37-34 victory over Souths, at Ballymore.
Souths outscored Sunnybank five tries to four, but the boot of young Dragons flyhalf Jake Strachan proved to be the difference, slotting four conversions and three penalties.
A scrum penalty provided Sunnybank with the early lead before Conrad Quick got on the outside of his opposite number, showing great speed as he linked up with winger Josh Edmond who crossed for the first try of the match.
Souths’ Scott Malolua reduced the deficit with a penalty goal from right in front of the uprights.
Twenty five minutes into the match, Teti Tela crossed for the Magpies’ first try, off the back of an offload from inside centre Paul Brown.
The Dragons responded through halfback Issak Fines-Lelewisa, who made a darting run from the back of a ruck.
With five minutes remaining in the first-half, Sunnybank strung together a number of offloads as Jason Beeton scored the Dragon’s third try.
In his final season as Sunnybank head coach, Rob Seib was happy with the way his side defended in the first-half.
“Souths are a physical side with some fantastic ball runners, so we had to make sure we defended well and we certainly did that in the first half. In the second-half they got a lot of ascendency off the back of their strong ball carries,” Seib said.
Immediately after the half-time break Sunnybank were reduced to 14 men and Souths capitalised, crossing for two quick tries.
Moments later, Sunnybank’s Feao Fotuaika barrelled over, before a long-range penalty goal from Strachan extended the Dragon’s lead to 12.
Semiti Tela linked up with a flying Keeghan Sefton for a stunning try then Markus Vanzati scored in the corner, levelling the scores to set up a thrilling final 10 minutes.
With 90 seconds left on the clock, Sunnybank’s Strachan slotted a penalty goal to seal the victory for the Dragons.
Dragons captain Brendan Mitchell said he had no preference as to who he would prefer to play in in the preliminary final, acknowledging that Sunnybank will have to beat both sides to win the Hospital Cup.
“We’re going to have to beat both of them if we want to win the cup so we’ll take it as it comes, week by week, and go from there,” hel said.
Congratulations to Musashi High Performer (Man of the match) Issak Fines-Leleiwasa who had an outstanding game at scrumhalf for Sunnybank.
Minor Semi-Final: Sunnybank 37 (F Fotuaika, I Fines-Leleiwasa, J Beeton, J Edmond tries; J Strachan 4 con, 3 pen) def Souths 34 (M Vanzati, A Mineko, T Tela, K Sefton, S Tela tries; T Tela 3 con, S Malolua pen)
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