The University of Queensland Hounds were forced to come from behind to down ACU in a hard-fought Universities Rugby League Queensland match last Banyo last night.
In a battle of two coaches who work together – Broncos’ video analyst Scott Barker (UQ) and former Broncos’ player now employee Jharal Yow Yeh (ACU) – the match see-sawed.
The Hounds had the advantage at halftime, leading 12-6, before ACU came roaring back with two tries to Declan Morrissey to take an 18-12 advantage.
But the Hounds steadied the ship late in the match, returning a salvo of two tries themselves to take a 24-18 lead.
A potentially-serious injury with two minutes left halted the match, but in good news, the player was cleared of serious damage last night.
Griffith Dragons emerged from a scrappy game victorious at the Logan campus at Meadowbrook.
In a first half punctuated with plenty of attack but questionable defence, the Dragons lead 24-18 when the referee blew the whistle for a rest.
The second half continued a game of ‘you score, we score’, but the Griffith Logan Redbacks managed to always stay in touch.
Redbacks’ prop Letoe Solomona scored twice, but he was bettered by Dragons’ fullback Jayden Marrott, who notched a hat-trick as the Dragons won again 34-28.
At Bishop Park reigning premiers QUT Trouts scored a good win, but were forced to work for it.
The Griffith Gold Coast Panthers were full of enthusiasm early, holding the Trouts to 10-0 at halftime.
But some second-half injuries took the wind out of their sails, the Trouts piling on 34 points in the second half, including doubles to Alex Fites and Ben Goulding.
URLQ Round 3 results
GRIFFITH DRAGONS 34 (Jayden Marrott 3, Tyran Rundmann, Matthew Butler, Connor Bohan tries; Jesse Domic 5 goals) defeated GRIFFITH LOGAN REDBACKS 28 (Letoe Solomona 2, Ta-Ama Atutahi, Hafiti Fuli, Ben Kelly tries; AJ Mulitalo 2, Atutahi 2 goals) at Griffith Logan Campus.
UQ HOUNDS 24 (Patrick Kosh, Braydon Lamb, Dom Heidke, David Ballard tries; Keegan Parker 4 goals) defeated ACU 18 (Declan Morrissey 2, Drew Ballard tries; Ballard 2, Omiar Khan goals) at ACU Banyo.
QUT TROUTS 44 (Alex Fites 2, Ben Goulding 2, Lachlan McCarron, Robert McCafferty, Richard Kay, Brady Griffin tries; Blake Trace 6 goals) defeated GRIFFITH GOLD COAST PANTHERS 0 at Bishop Park.
LADDER
9 – QUT Hounds
7 – Griffith Dragons, UQ Hounds
5 – ACU, Griffith Logan Redbacks
3 – Griffith GC Panthers
