Skip to main content
Start of main content.

UQ retain Brailsford-Brown Cup

University of Queensland have cemented their position at the top of the Hospital Cup table after defeating the Bull Sharks by three points, setting up a tustle of the contenders when Bond meets Brothers on Saturday. 

With the Brailsford-Brown Varsity Cup and top spot on the ladder on the line, there was plenty to play for but three early tries and a strong performance in the scrum were not enough to hold off defending premiers UQ who took the match 31-28.

Powerful backrower Devon Hanson made the most of his return to the first-grade side after injury, crossing twice for the Bull Sharks.

Flanker Connor Pritchard put Bond ahead early, scoring the first try of the match off a sensational line break from halfback Liam Dillon.

UQ quickly returned serve and the back-and-forth contest continued, Bond holding a slight two-point lead going into the break.

Coach Grant Anderson’s decision to select a heftier forward pack paid off with the Bull Sharks showing scrum dominance over UQ throughout the match.

Bond winger Abele Atunaisa also wreaked havoc on opposing defences, speeding past four UQ defenders to score a brilliant individual try as the game headed into its final 20 minutes.

But UQ answered, scoring again to put the home side ahead with nine minutes on the clock.

Bond kept fighting to the final moments and a scrum penalty 5m out left Bull Sharks Captain Dan Boardman with a decision to make: take a shot at goal to secure the draw or go for a final try.

Boardman elected to go for the win, but an execution error at the lineout ended the game with UQ retaining the Cup.

Vice-Captain Jake Upfield spoke about the side’s willingness throughout the match and the strength of the team’s defence.

“Very disappointing result obviously, it came right down to the wire and we gave ourselves a chance to win the game which was really positive but just few errors let us down at the end,” he said.

“We showed really good defence early on and to go into halftime with the lead was really positive especially as we had defended for long periods of time.”

Upfield said the performance showed Bond belonged art the pointy end of the table.

“We showed really good physicality all game and our scrum was just immense. The likes of Devon Henson and Nixon Taramai were very strong around the field for us,” he said.

The Bull Sharks will be back at The Canal on Saturday, taking on Brothers as part of Past Players’ Day.

Bond and Brothers are each locked on 21 points on the Hospital Cup ladder, led by UQ on 25.   

First Grade

UQ d Bull Sharks 31-28  

Premier Women’s

UQ d Bull Sharks 36-19 

Second Grade

UQ tied Bull Sharks 24-24

Third Grade

UQ tied Bull Sharks 17-17  

Colts 1

UQ tied Bull Sharks 29-29 

Colts 2

UQ d Bull Sharks 31-11

More from Bond

  • International students join soccer goal rush

    Bond's soccer club have scored 49 times in three games as international students join the goal rush.

    Read article
  • Sapphires and Rubies glitter at Netball season launch

    The excitement was building at the Bull Sharks' season launch ahead of their return to the Sapphire Series

    Read article
  • Trouble brewing on geographical beer names

    Australian craft beer breweries could be caught up in a push by European brewers to protect the names of beer styles in the same way French winemakers jealously guard Champagne and Bordeaux.

    Read article
  • $1m to study diabetes patients left to their own devices

    A Bond University researcher has received more than $1 million to determine if wearable devices can help type 2 diabetes patients better manage their condition.

    Read article
  • Uncomfortable truth about women in uniform

    Women are increasingly seen as the right fit for police and military forces around the world but uncomfortable body armour can make work a pain.

    Read article
Previous Next