Bond University have claimed the Queensland Premier Rugby minor premiership with a heart racing 32-26 victory over GPS on Saturday.
The triumph over the Gallopers was the Bull Sharks’ sixth win on the trot and secured the club’s first minor premiership with one round to go in the regular season.
How it unfolded:
It took just two minutes for Bond to strike after they stole possession and quickly swung the ball wide to flyer Hamish Roberts who scored in the corner.
Just three minutes later, Zane Nonggorr, Bond’s newest Wallaby, powered his way over to extend the lead to 12-0. The rampage would continue when hooker Mesu Dolokoto peeled off a rolling maul to crash over for Bond’s third.
With the Gallopers on the attack five metres out, towering lock Josh Canham forced a turnover and set up Bond’s fourth try after powering into space and delivering a sensational pass to Roberts who sprinted fifty metres to score again.
As halftime approached, GPS finally had some possession and opened their account out wide through winger Mitch Treleaven. The Gallopers scrum was causing Bond headaches and that continued when they were awarded a penalty try to reduce the margin to 26-12 at the break.
Bond were reduced to 13 men after half time courtesy of yellow cards to Jayden Ngamanu and Rusiate Nasove, and the Gallopers made them pay when they ran in their third five-pointer.
The Bull Sharks managed to add three important points through a close-range penalty to extend the lead to 29-19 and a further penalty eight minutes from time provided Bond with a handy 13-point buffer.
This game would have more to give, though. When the Gallopers scored out wide with 90 seconds remaining, they were within seven points and the game was up for grabs.
Understandably, GPS threw everything at Bond in the final moments. They surged their way upfield following an injury delay and after three penalties in row against the Bull Sharks, the hosts found themselves with a centre field scrum fifteen metres out from the try line deep with the game in its 87th minute.
Bond defended their own line for countless phases with GPS on the charge. In the end Bull Shark spirit shone through with captain Lachlan Connors forcing a knock on to bring an end to an epic.
What they said:
Captain Lachlan Connors was instrumental in the contest and was proud of Bond’s willingness to rise to the occasion when it mattered.
“It’s such an unreal feeling for this group.” Connors said. “We have been working towards this all year just taking it week by week so it's nice to finish on top and lock in that major semi-final.”
“We had a really great team today, the way they stuck in there for 89 minutes, especially having the man down, I can’t fault the boys and the effort shown.”
With finals on the horizon Bond will be eager to finish the regular season on the right note against Souths Magpies.
“We have a tough game to finish next week against Souths and we can’t discredit them, so we have to focus on that first before we look towards finals,” Connors said.
What’s next:
Bond will finish the regular season against Souths at The Canal next week, but it will be a big weekend around the grades for the Bull Sharks.
The premier women will be eager to bounce back after a disappointing performance against the Gallopers to take momentum into week one of the finals.
It also promises to be a huge match for Colts One who take on the ladders. The Bull Sharks sit just two points out of the top four and a win would propel them into the finals.