Jharal Yow Yeh’s Australian Catholic University team produced a boilover on a night of upsets in the Universities Rugby League Queensland competition last night.
There were three big turn ups on a night where the competition ladder tightened, as the bottom three teams on the ladder – ACU, the Gold Coast Griffith Panthers and Griffith Logan Redbacks – defied the odds.
Yow Yeh’s Panthers were impressive in downing the reigning premiers QUT Hounds by 42-12 at Banyo, a win that catapulted them into second place on the ladder.
Two tries each from Josh Cook and new recruit Drew Ballard set up a stunning eight-tries-to-two victory.
And there was another big shock down on the Gold Coast, as the Griffith Panthers overcame last year’s minor premiers, the Griffith Dragons.
The inclusion of front rowers Giovanni Rapana – an Australian Universities’ representative prop – and Elvis Jensen helped as both scored tries.
The Dragons had an 8-6 lead at the break, but the Panthers came home stronger to nab their first victory of the season.
Meanwhile down at Logan the Redbacks re-ignited their season with a 20-18 upset win over the depleted University of Queensland Hounds.
The match was tight all night, with the teams locked 6-all at halftime.
But tries to replacements Josh Wilson, Sam Liana and Suping Zhou proved the difference for the home team.
Next week in the final round before the semester break, ACU host the Redbacks at Banyo, the Panthers travel to UQ and the Hounds will be at home at Bishop Park against the Dragons.
URLQ ROUND 4 RESULTS
ACU 42 (Josh Cook 2, Drew Ballard 2, Riwan Fittock, Mitchell Ayling, Connor Morrissey, Ed Foot tries; Khaleel waqar 3, Omair Khan, Ballard goals) defeated QUT Trouts 12 (Lachlan McCarron, Owen McCarron tries; Blake Trace 2 goals) at ACU campus, Banyo.
Griffith Gold Coast Panthers 22 (Adam Lock, Terence McMahon, Elvis Jensen, Giovanni Rapana tries; Cody Feltham 3 goals) defeated Griffith Dragons 20 (Matthew Butler, Adam Jessup, Damien Bige, Samuel Marke tries; Jesse Domic 2 goals) at Owen Park, Southport.
Griffith Logan Redbacks 20 (Albert Robertson, John Wilson, Sam Liana, Suping Zhou tries; AJ Mulitalo 2 goals) defeated UQ Hounds 18 (John Upton, Keegan Parker, Dom Heidke tries; Chris Hansen 2, Parker goals) at Griffith Logan campus, Meadowbrook.
URLQ LADDER
10 points – QUT Hounds (+32)
8 points – ACU (+28), Dragons (+16), UQ Hounds (0), Redbacks (-4)
6 points – Griffith Panthers (-72)
