After ten rounds of wet weather, close scorelines and spirited competition, the 2009 Universities Rugby League Queensland (URLQ) finalists have finally been decided.
Having been crowned premiers for the past four seasons, the Griffith Dragons were fittingly the first team to qualify for this season’s grand final, courtesy of their last round 38-14 victory over the University of Queensland’s Gatton Bulls.
The Dragons again finished the season in top spot, and will be shooting for a historic and unparalleled fifth successive Queensland Universities crown next Saturday June 6th at Brisbane’s Langlands Park.
Having won their past four matches, the QUT Trouts will be favourites to meet the Dragons in the 2009 decider, and will face off against the University of Queensland Hounds for the second time in a week next Monday night.
The Trouts finished in second spot after their hard fought 22-20 victory over the Hounds at Griffith University’s Nathan campus on Wednesday night, and will be confident of making it back-to-back victories despite the short turnaround.
The Trouts gain an important psychological advantage leading into next weeks final series after theri two point victory over the Hounds, with handling proving difficult in the slippery conditions difficult thanks to last weeks torrential rain.
The Hounds capitalised on UQ's poor handling, racing to an early 10-0 lead midway through the first half, before the Trouts composed themselves and fought their way back into the game.
A flying Kyle ‘bowlcut’ Panebianio was able to cross late in the first half down the right wing to go to narrow the scores to 10-6 at teh break. The second half started badly for the Trouts, with an error giving Reuban Butler his second try for the night and extending the UQ hounds lead to 16-6.
Rampaging Fou Fuimaom hit back with a try under the posts to bring the difference back to 16-12, however, UQ scored again through inspirational coach Michael Ellis to make it 20-12 with only 10 minutes left in the game.
From the restart, a huge defensive effort by Aaron Willis and Robert Cousslen forced an error from which David Horne scored in the next set and Michael Murphy converted from the side line to set up an exciting finish.
Again from the restart, Whakaari Taite broke a couple of tackles from the tiring UQ defenders and made a long run down the field, deep into UQ territory. From the break, the Trouts scored a few plays later in the right corner to give the QUT Trouts the lead for the first time of the night at 22-20 with two minutes remaining to play.
The 2009 URLQ decider will act as the curtain raiser for the Queensland Rugby League’s Easts Tigers versus Mackay Cutter’s Round 13 clash.
URLQ Round 10 Results
Griffith Dragons 38 defeated UQ Gatton Bulls 14
QUT Trouts 22 defeated UQ Hounds 20
