Bond university queensland country 26 - perth spirit 29
Bond University Queensland Country have finished second in the National Rugby Championship regular season, after losing 29-26 to Perth Spirit at North Ipswich Reserve on Sunday afternoon.
Despite the loss, Country will head to Toowoomba next Sunday, 5 November, to host their first-ever NRC semi-final, taking on the Fijian Drua at Clive Berghofer Stadium at 2pm.
Country had a fast start to the match, pushing out to a 21-0 lead within 20 minutes, but were kept scoreless in the second half, as the Spirit locked things up at 26-all with 15 minutes to go, before stealing the win with a Peter Grant penalty goal after full time.
First half - scoring plays
10MIN: TRY TIME Campbell. Great sustained attack from Country. Offload from Slipper set up the try. Tuttle adds the extras and Country lead 7-0.
16MIN: Country are in again, Tuttle running 50m to score after a turnover from a big tackle from our centres. Tuttle converts from sideline to push lead to 14-0.
21MIN: Feauai-Sautia is OVER. Crash ball from the skipper to extend his side's lead. Tuttle conversion is good and Country lead 21-0.
27MIN: Arnold hits back for the Spirit, taking a short ball from Prior close to the line. Grant adds the extras, Country lead 21-7.
31MIN: Country are in again, James touching down in the corner. Conversion no good. Country lead 26-7.
Scoring plays - second half
46MIN: Spirit go nine phases to score, Ferris dots down to close the gap. Conversion is good. Spirit trail 26-14.
50MIN: Spirit go in again through Jooste. Conversion no good. Spirit trail 26-19.
65MIN: Spirit are in again with reserve hooker Malolo forcing his way over the line. Grant adds the extras and it's locked up 26-all.
80MIN: Country penalised at the scrum and Spirit opt for a shot at goal. Grant notches it and Spirit claim it 29-26.
Bond University Queensland Country 26 (Jock Campbell, James Tuttle, Chris Feauai-Sautia, Pat James tries; James Tuttle 3 conversions) defeated by Perth Spirit 29 (Richie Arnold, Tevin Ferris, Nick Jooste, Sama Malolo tries; Peter Grant 3 conversions; Grant 1 penalty goal) at North Ipswich Reserve on Sunday 29 October 2017.
BOND UNIVERSITY QUEENSLAND COUNTRY
STARTING XV
1. James Slipper - Bond University, Gold Coast
2. Efi Ma'afu – Wests/Ipswich (Starting debut)
3. Kirwan Sanday - Easts
4. Phil Potgieter - University of Queensland, Toowoomba
5. Harry Hockings - University of Queensland, Bowen
6. Ted Postal – Brothers, Townsville
7. Tai Ford - Bond University, Gold Coast
8. Angus Scott-Young - University of Queensland
9. James Tuttle - GPS
10. Teti Tela – Souths/Ipswich
11. Jock Campbell - University of Queensland, Gold Coast (Starting debut)
12. Hamish Stewart - Bond University, Gold Coast
13. Chris Feauai-Sautia – Souths (c)
14. Filipo Daugunu - Wests
15. Patrick James – Brothers
RESERVES
16. Sean Farrell - University of Queensland, Sunshine Coast (Potential NRC and Queensland Country debut)
17. Alex Casey - Souths
18. Richie Asiata - Easts
19. Rob Puli'uvea - Wests
20. Tyrone Pritchard – Easts, Emerald (Potential NRC and Queensland Country debut)
21. Tate McDermott - University of Queensland, Sunshine Coast
22. Tony Hunt - University of Queensland
23. Conor Chittenden - Norths (Potential NRC and Queensland Country debut)