The three Griffith University teams flew their colours high with victories on a gala opening day of the Universities Rugby League Queensland competition yesterday.
All six teams faced off in the traditional Anzac Day triple header at the Nathan campus of Griffith University in front of a big crowd.
And it was the Griffith Logan Redbacks that fired the loudest shot, defeating the QUT Trouts 42-6 to underline their early premiership credentials.
The Redbacks piled on six tries, one of which went to 2017 Queensland Universities representative Ben Kelly.
Unluckily, Kelly finished the match with a broken wrist and is unlikely to play again until the later stages of the competition.
Griffith Gold Coast gave a minor surprise when the Panthers dispatched Australian Catholic University 22-12.
Winger Ted Anson streaked over for two tries and clever half Cody Feltham knocked over three goals as the Coast boys notched an impressive win away from home.
In a battle of the heavyweights, the Griffith Dragons knocked over reigning premiers the UQ Hounds 10-6 in a quality match that went down to the wire.
Patrick Robinson scored a try against his old club for the Hounds, but tries to Allen Rau and Liufau Hala gave new coach Matt Church a winning start at the Dragons.
Next Wednesday, the Dragons will be at home again to ACU, the Redbacks will travel down to the Gold Coast, and the UQ Hounds will visit the Trouts at their new home at Purtell Park in Bardon.
URLQ Round 1 Results
GRIFFITH LOGAN REDBACKS 42 (Cris Afamasaga, Jack Colburn, Ben Kelly, Justin Fiso, Laithan Joseph, Samuel Vaughey, Suping Zhou tries; Trent Shield 7 goals) defeated QUT Trouts 6 (Owen Williams try; Richard Kay goal) at Griffith University Nathan campus.
GRIFFITH GOLD COAST PANTHERS 22 (Ted Anson 2, Mathew Currie, Branston Kennach tries; Cody Feltham 3 goals) defeated ACU 12 (Declan Morrissy, Ikaia Fa’aso tries; Fa’aso 2 goals)at Griffith University Nathan campus.
GRIFFITH DRAGONS 10 (Allen Rau, Liufau Hala tries; Clayton Bohan goal) defeated UNIVERSITY OF QLD HOUNDS 6 (Patrick Robinson try; Braydon Lamb goal) at Griffith University Nathan campus.
Photo: Cody Feltham of Panthers and Declan Morrisy from ACU. Image Supplied