University edge past Sunnybank for Grand Final birth
University of Queensland have booked their place in next weekend’s BLK Queensland Premier Rugby grand final, securing a 32-31 victory over Sunnybank in an end-to-end classic preliminary final at Ballymore.
University got off to a perfect start with Tom Banks making an inspiring run almost immediately after kick-off. The Heavies capitalised on their field position and Pat Fepuleai scored inside the opening two minutes, in front of a sea of UQ supporters on the Ballymore hill.
University captain Conor Mitchell was impressed with the turn out.
“It was good out there, we heard the crowd on the hill but next week will be even better in the grand final,” Mitchell said.
The Heavies benefitted from all the possession in the first 10 minutes and added to their lead with winger Tom Pincus slotting a penalty goal. Sunnybank’s Jake Strachan replied with a penalty goal of his own to reduce the Heavies’ lead to five points, 8-3.
With five minutes remaining in the first half, Sunnybank got out in front when captain Brendan Mitchell barrelled over underneath the uprights.
After the success of Mitchell’s pick and drive, the Dragons backed themselves right on half-time and were rewarded when their leading try-scorer, Jeffrey Faamausili, scored to put Sunnybank in front 17-8, as the teams headed into the sheds.
The Heavies started the second-half in similar fashion to the first, with flanker Pat Morrey splitting the Dragon’s defence inside the opening minute, allowing Scott Gale to cross for a try.
University edged out in front when Nathan Russell showed some great footwork to break through Sunnybank’s line, taking the score to 22-17 after a successful conversion from Pincus.
But the Dragons responded through Strachan, who added seven points to his personal tally after crossing besides the uprights.
The match began to seesaw when a botched clearance kick was pounced on by the Heavies, leading to a try for hooker Tonga Ma’afu
University’s scrum was generally dominant but with 20 minutes remaining, Sunnybank number eight Faamausili spun away from the back of a scrum and crossed for his second try of the afternoon. The try put the Dragons ahead 31-29.
With four minutes remaining, the Red Heavies’ forward pack got their revenge when Sunnybank were penalised at scrum time. Tom Pincus stepped up for the critical penalty goal and showed great composure to put University ahead by one point, 32-31.
“It was a really tough game, both sides scored some good tries out there and it was close all the way through, in the end it just came down to that kick and Pincus slotted it. It’s always good to be on the right end of a close game,” Mitchell said.
University held on and will now seek redemption when they come up against Brothers, who upset them in the major semi-final last weekend.
“We know we’ve got to turn up physically, I think last week they outmuscled us. They definitely had a lot stronger ball carries, so if we can fix that area of the game and limit the errors that we make I think it will do us the world of good.”
Congratulations to University of Queensland number eight, Jack Cornelsen, who was named the Musashi High Performer (Man of the Match).
University of Queensland 32 (P Fepuleai T Ma’afu S Gale N Russell tries T Pincus 2 pens 3 cons) def Sunnybank 31 (J Faamausili 2 tries B Mitchell J Strachan tries J Strachan pen 4 cons)
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