Sunday, September 7, 2014
University are now scheduled to play Noosa in the 2014 Sunshine Coast Rugby Union grand final at Sunshine Coast Stadium next weekend. They defeated Toads 19–10 at Australia’s University of the Sunshine Coast in the preliminary final yesterday.
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Strong defence was a key in this game. Image: Patrick Gillett.
University clear the ball from the final ruck of the game as a Toads player tries to “roll away”. Image: Patrick Gillett.
The first half of the preliminary final was uneventful on field with both teams scoring unconverted tries. A highlight was touch judge Steve Ryan seen laughing with the nearby crowd briefly before continuing his duties. Five-all was the score at half time.
The second half saw three tries scored. Toads scored the opening try at thirteen minutes to take the score to 10–5.
University scored the first converted try eight minutes later to take the lead — 12–10 to Uni. They sealed the victory with thirteen minutes left in the game with a converted try.
University didn’t walk away unscathed, however, with either picking up injuries or aggravating existing ones.
University coach Steve Scotland said, “I really don’t know how we’re going to shape up […] We had a lot of boys who either picked up injuries or re-injured themselves in that game.”
But Scotland says they can still win the premiership decider.”If we’re patient for the whole game we will do all right, but there were some points there where we tried to play a game of touch football, and you can’t do that […] If we can work on that patience we should give ourselves a good chance against Noosa.”