The QUT Trouts had to withstand a whirlwind comeback from the UQ Hounds and a late-game blackout to record their first Universities Rugby League Queensland victory of the year.
After a shock first-round loss to Griffith Dragons, the Trouts were under pressure to keep pace with the competition’s early leaders on Wednesday night.
They responded, with cheeky hooker Blake Trayce notching two first-half tries to nab the Trouts an 8-0 lead at the break.
It got worse for the home side when centre Luke Ford snagged a length-of-the-field try straight after the break, with a four-pointer to fullback Matt Scott soon after making it 20-0.
But the UQ return of fire came fast with three tries in 10 minutes, including one to cult hero prop Kane Grubb, bringing the score back to 20-18 with four minutes left.
But then the lights went out and stopped the game. Power was restored in just a few minutes, but so was QUT’s resolve, with prop Jack Watson scoring on fulltime for a 26-18 win.
On the Gold Coast, the Griffith Panthers showed plenty of pluck before going down to three-time reigning premiers, the Griffith Logan Redbacks.
With Australian Universities’ rep player Travis Drury scoring, the Panthers were much better than in week one, closing to 20-14 with four minutes to go as they chased a try and an unlikely draw.
But the experienced Redbacks steadied, with two late tries chalking up a 30-14 victory.
At Nathan, the Dragons showed last week’s dispatch of QUT was no fluke, outgunning ACU 22-10.
Winger Hale Vaihu scored twice to move the Dragons into equal-top spot on the ladder.
In next week’s round the Redbacks and Dragons will meet for the outright competition lead at Logan, the Trouts will host the Panthers at Bishop Park, and ACU and UQ meet at Banyo.
ROUND 2 RESULTS
GRIFFITH DRAGONS 22 (Hale Vaihu 2, Callum Gavin, Kulima Panapa tries; Jess Domic 3 goals) defeated AUSTRALIAN CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY 10 (Josh Cook, Ryan Smith tries; Leon Yehtman goal) at Griffith Nathan Campus
GRIFFITH LOGAN REDBACKS 30 (Cris Afamasaga, Arthur Mapu, Tony Lagaia, Tyrone Girle, Taniela Ilangana, Ben Ah Sam tries; Brando Vaulu 3 goals) defeated GOLD COAST GRIFFITH PANTHERS 14 (Travis Drury, Liam Sandstrom, Michael Balanda tries; Cody Feltham goal) at Parkwood RLFC.
QUEENSLAND UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY TROUTS 26 (Blake Trayce 2, Jack Watson, Matt Scott, Luke Ford tries; Trayce 3 goals) defeated UNIVERSITY OF QLD HOUNDS 18 (Todd Bichel, Kane Grubb, Brendan Baker tries; Bake 3 goals) at University of Queensland.
LADDER: Griffith Logan Redbacks 6, Griffith Dragons 6, UQ Hounds 4, QUT Trouts 4, ACU 2, Griffith GC Panthers 2.
