University of Queensland claim the 2017 Hospital Cup
University of Queensland (UQ) have secured the 2017 Hospital Cup with a 23-14 win over GPS Gallopers in the Queensland Premier Rugby grand final at Ballymore Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
After being outmuscled by the GPS forward pack in the major semi-final two weeks ago, UQ’s pack lifted for the occasion, led by captain and Tony Shaw Medallist (man of the match) Jack de Guingand.
The final was well supported, with 6,623 people at Ballymore as the spiritual home of Rugby in Queensland celebrated its 50th anniversary.
UQ lock Patrick Morrey crossed for a double as UQ outscored the Gallopers three tries to one to claim their fourth Hospital Cup under head coach Mick Heenan.
Heenan said: “This is pretty satisfying. Everyone had written us off after losing to GPS twice in the last few weeks but we showed a bit of character today, it was really special.
“In the major, we gave them some soft tries. A real focus for us today was hanging tough in the 22, we hit hard, we hit often and the boys really turned up for each other on the inside. I’m really stoked.”
Five minutes into the match University’s eagerness in defence brought about an offside penalty right in front of the uprights and GPS centre AJ Alatimu stepped up and slotted the kick.
A first-phase scrum play 10 minutes later saw GPS winger Chris Kuridrani slice through before scrumhalf Nick Frisby fell short of the line and kept the ball alive for flanker Waita Setu to dive over for the first try of the match.
UQ turned down a shot at goal minutes later and was rewarded when Morrey found the try line to reduce the Gallopers’ lead to three points.
With 10 minutes remaining in the half, GPS had UQ’s scrum back peddling in their own 22 but University managed to clear the ball from the scrum base.
University flyhalf James Dalgleish straightened at the line of the next phase and ran 60 metres before combining with Nathan Russell for a clever one-two passage that resulted in the flyhalf diving over in the corner.
Dalgleish then stood up and nailed a straightforward penalty goal to extend UQ’s lead to 13-8 with five minutes remaining in the half.
Radike Samo was handed a yellow card for striking as the referee blew for half time with UQ ahead by five points.
Straight after the break, Dagleish stepped up and slotted a penalty goal to extend University’s lead to 16-11.
Alatimu pegged that lead back to five points with a penalty goal in the 46th minute.
The GPS centre then turned UQ’s defence around with a clever grubber kick that saw Gareth Kalell yellow carded in the 55th minute for tackling the player without the ball as he scrambled back to save a try.
After five minutes of pressuring University’s defence in their own 22m, GPS opted for a shot at goal and Alatimu made no mistake reducing the scoreboard to 16-14.
With 11 minutes left, UQ had GPS pinned on their try line and kept the ball in tight before Morrey snuck over for his second.
The Hospital Cup win adds to another successful season for University which saw them claim the Horsley Cup (minor premiership) and their eighth-straight Doughty Shield (club champions).
The Queensland Rugby Union also recognised the 2017 leading point scorer Sunnybank’s Jake Strachan (146 points in the regular season), leading try scorer UQ’s Harry Parker (13 tries in the regular season) and U19 player of the year Bond University’s Hamish Stewart.
University of Queensland 23 (Pat Morrey 2, James Dalgleish tries; Dalgleish 2 pen goal; Dalgleish 1 con) defeated GPS 14 (Waita Setu tries; AJ Alatimu 3 pen goal) at Ballymore Stadium on August 20, 2017.
Related Posts
« Australian Rugby High Performance leaders unite to develop ‘one plan’ for Rugby Pumas end Griquas’ Currie Cup power run »
