For four years, Bull Sharks flyhalf Callum Simpson has chased an elusive Colts 1 Queensland Premier Rugby flag.
For the Bond University Rugby Club, the pursuit has spanned 12 years.
Yesterday, the wait was finally over.
After finishing as minor premiers only to fall short of the grand final last year, Bond weren’t going to let another opportunity slip, bettering Souths in front of a boisterous Ballymore crowd.
Souths struck first, crossing inside the opening eight minutes, but the Bull Sharks held their nerve.
Through the expert hands of Australian Under 20s representative Jonah Rangiwai, Bachelor of Property Management student Simpson broke Bond’s scoring drought with a stunning try in the 28th minute to get his side on the board.
Speedy Melbourne product, winger Ed Lyons, followed soon after, capitalising on a clinical lineout engineered by Junior Wallaby lock Kenny Harris.
Bull Sharks fullback Ryan Wildman converted both tries to send Bond into the sheds with a 14-5 advantage. Named player of the match, Wildman’s influence would grow as the contest tightened.
Bond fans didn’t have to wait long for something to celebrate after the break, with Kiwi hooker Karius Booth planting the Gilbert beneath the posts and Wilman adding another conversion to stretch the lead.
But Souths weren’t done.
Back-to-back tries in the 53rd and 60th minutes dragged them back into the contest, although two missed conversions prevented them from drawing level.
Wildman then stepped up again in the 67th minute, calmly slotting a penalty goal in front of the raucous Souths supporters to push Bond’s advantage back to nine points.
Victory was within reach, but the Bull Sharks refused to take their foot off the gas.
In the dying seconds, Lyons produced a barnstorming run to put the result beyond doubt and seal the first Colts 1 premiership in Bond University Rugby Club history.
For Simpson, the triumph provided the perfect ending to his final year in Colts.
“It means everything,” Simpson said.
“There’s such a special group of players this year and we really made it our goal to take each week as it comes.
“After a few close seasons, the win yesterday really showed the development of the whole program and just how much talent the Gold Coast can produce.
“Being part of the first Bond Colts 1 team to win will be something I remember forever.”
The Colts 1 triumph gave Bull Sharks supporters plenty to celebrate after a heartbreaking Saturday at Ballymore.
Setu Naseri’s Premier Women fell agonisingly short of a fifth straight QPR premiership, edged 33-31 by Sunnybank in a gripping Grand Final.
Earlier, Bond’s Third Grade men mounted a stirring late comeback against Brothers, only to run out of time in another 33-31 thriller.
And after fighting their way into the Grand Final in dramatic fashion, Colts 2 couldn’t produce one last upset, falling 41-21 to Brothers.