Two former Kangaroos had their first win as coaches after the Australian Catholic University went on a second-half blitz at Banyo last night.
Co-coaches Justin Hodges and Jharal Yow Yeh were ecstatic with their charges as they turned a 10-6 halftime lead over the University of Queensland Hounds into a 38-12 victory.
Zippy halfback Geoff Fabila ripped apart the Hounds with two tries, but it was the team’s defence that most impressed the coaches in the round three Universities Rugby League Queensland match.
“The boys played well tonight but it was a little bit scrappy in attack,” Hodges said after the game.
“However, I was really happy with our defence, they did a great job there.”
The triumph equalled ACU’s entire win tally for 2015, but on that evidence; there will be plenty more to come.
At Meadowbrook, defending premiers Griffith Logan Redbacks overcame Griffith Dragons 26-18 to surge to the top of the ladder.
In a meeting of two undefeated teams, the Dragons grabbed the early ascendency and led 4-0 through Jack Thomas.
But led by captain Tyrone Girle, the Redbacks gained control of the middle to lead 16-4 at halftime.
The Dragons weren’t finished, posting tries to Patrick Robinson and Connor Bohan to make it 20-18 with seven minutes left.
But Girle crashed over late to end the contest.
Meanwhile at Bishop Park, Queensland University of Technology got their second win on the trot by blanking the Griffith Gold Coast Panthers 22-0.
It wasn’t as easy as it sounded, after the Panthers held QUT to 4-0 at the break.
But three second-half tries, including one to former Intrust Super Cup player Asher Elemani, earned the Trouts a comfortable victory.
URLQ Round 3 Results
ACU 38 (Geoff Fabila 2, Jake Radcliffe, Dom Hanley, Leon Yeatman, David Stokes, Jack Peoples tries; Yeatman 4, Manu Emery goals) defeated UQ HOUNDS 12 (Matt Gavin, Brendan Baker tries; Baker 2 goals) at Banyo RLFC.
QUT Trouts 22 (Asher Elemani, Jack Watson, Lance Hamilton, Bennie Uraboro tries; Blake Trace 2 goals) defeated Griffith Gold Coast Panthers 0 at Bishop Park.
Griffith Logan Redbacks 26 (Tyrone Girle 2, Cris Afamasaga, Arthur Napu, Tony Lagaaia tries; Brando Va’alu 3 goals) defeated Griffith Dragons 18 (Hale Vaihu, Patrick Robinson, Jack Thomas, Connor Bohan tries; Jesse Domic goal) at Griffith University Logan, Meadowbrook.
