All the scores and news from Aussie rules, rugby union, league and football on the Gold Coast
IT’S another glorious Saturday on the Gold Coast jam-packed of all things footy. Keep up to speed on all the action in our wrap here.
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IT’S another glorious Saturday on the Gold Coast jam-packed of all things footy. Keep up to speed on all the action in our wrap here.
RUGBY UNION
Gold Coast District: Surfers Paradise 30 d Griffith University Colleges 17
Surfers Paradise almost certainly won’t head into finals as minor premiers but their title three-peat looks well and truly on track after they prevailed in a tense match at Heeb St.
Little separated the sides across a hard-fought 80 minutes as the scores got as close as 18-17 in the Dolphins’ favour during the second term when Pila Fifta barged over for the Knights.
From there, the boot of England rugby sevens legend Ben Gollings gradually stretched Surfers’ lead to 13 points courtesy of four penalty goals – including one that had come about after his long-range field goal attempt struck the goal post and was recovered by a teammate in prime position.
With these two teams expected to feature in the decider for a third straight year, the Round 20 result could give Surfers a timely psychological edge.
GPS Rugby: The Southport School 54 d Brisbane Boys College 15
TSS have surged to the top of the table with yet another runaway victory on home soil.
The Mike Wallace-coached outfit was in command for much of the game and really stamped their authority by posting three second-half tries in quick succession to dampen BBC’s spirits.
BBC had been undefeated through the opening four rounds but now TSS sit alone in first place with a five-from-five record.
However, fellow joint 2017 premiers Nudgee College are also yet to taste defeat – after today’s bye, their 4-0 start to the season remains intact.
It all points towards a final round crunch match next month between TSS and Nudgee likely deciding the title.
Qld Premier Rugby colts 2: Brothers 41 d Bond University 14
Bond University have fallen one game short of a miracle under-19 premiership.
Having finished the regular season in fourth, the Bullsharks found their way into the decider after piling on the points in back-to-back weeks against more fancied Souths and University of Queensland.
However, not even the words of one of the key architects behind Japan’s memorable upset of South Africa in the 2015 World Cup could inspire a David against Goliath fairytale at Ballymore, with Brothers proving too good.
The Brisbane-based club dropped just one game en route to the premiership but Bond’s young guns have proven there is plenty of outstanding talent coming through the ranks at Robina.
ALL THE GOSS FROM OUR BALL AND ALL CONFIDENTIAL COLUMN
AUSSIE RULES
QAFL: Morningside 21.14 (140) d Labrador 9.7 (61)
QAFL: Mt Gravatt 10.13 (73) d Surfers Paradise 10.11 (71)
QAFL: Palm Beach Currumbin 20.21 (141) d Wilston Grange 8.9 (57)
SURFERS Paradise will put their QAFL finals chances on the line in the last round of the regular season next week after losing to Mt Gravatt after the siren.
The Demons looked set to go to equal second on the ladder with Broadbeach, who had the bye, on Saturday at Dittmer Park.
Surfers Paradise led by 32 points in the third quarter but Mt Gravatt fought back to snatch an incredible two-point win to keep their own finals hopes alive.
Mt Gravatt had repeatedly went inside 50m before Samuel Stubbs took a mark with seconds remaining.
He converted and victories to both the Western Magpies and Morningside mean the loss has dropped Surfers Paradise sixth, one position outside of the finals.
Next week’s game between Surfers Paradise and the Western Magpies will determine who goes into the finals.
Morningside beat Labrador 21.14 (140) to 9.7 (61) at Cooke Murphy Oval while Palm Beach Currumbin beat Wilston Grange 20.21 (141) to 8.9 (57) at Salk Oval with Jack Anthony slotting 10 of the Lions’ goals.
NEAF L: Brisbane 17.15 (117) d Gold Coast 2.8 (20)
The Southport Sharks have retained their place at the top of the ladder with one round to play following a 80-point win over the Northern Territory Thunder in Darwin.
The Sharks 19.16 (130) to 7.8 (50) win ensured they got the percentage boost they needed to stay ahead of Sydney, Aspley and Sydney University who all sit on the same number of wins as Southport.
Meanwhile, the Gold Coast Suns reserves team have suffered a 97-point loss to the Brisbane Lions who have cemented their place in the NEAFL finals.
The Suns were always going to be up against it. Gold Coast fielded just four AFL listed players, including Darcy Macpherson, Josh Schoenfeld, Jack Scrimshaw and Jacob Dawson, against a Lions team with 16 listed players.
Brisbane took a 13-point lead into the first break and extended the margin in each quarter to run out 17.15 (117) to 2.8 (20) winners at Metricon Stadium.
NEAFL: NT Thunder v Southport at TIO Stadium, 6.30pm
AFL: Gold Coast v Brisbane at Metricon Stadium, 7.25pm (HEAD HERE)
RUGBY LEAGUE
RLGC A-grade: Tugun 14 d Burleigh 12
This was a match touted as an early start to finals and it did not disappoint, with 80 minutes of spectacularly intense football played as a place in the top five went on the line.
Ultimately it was defending premiers Burleigh who were bundled out of finals contention – on the assumption that Southport account for winless Ormeau tomorrow.
Tugun defended their line passionately under pressure in the second half before the Bears finally broke through, hitting the lead for the first time in the 73rd minute courtesy of a try to fullback Jaxson Paulo.
But the Seahawks were not done yet, with Nathanael Barnes leaping high to snare a Zac Walsh cross-field kick and score with 90 seconds on the clock.
The match was at one stage reduced to 11-a-side after four players were sent to the sin bin following an all-in melee.
Intrust Super Cup: Ipswich 52 d Tweed Heads 16
Ipswich have found their dynamic best to put the Seagulls to the sword in a 10 tries to three demolition job.
Tweed got on the board first through Jack Cook but conceded the next eight tries to be blown away.
The men from Piggabeen were flying at the midway point of the season but with their Titans allocation trimmed to only Brendan Elliot and Leilani Latu and several of their regular key players injured, they are limping home.
Tweed have won just one of their past eight matches, with a final round assignment away against the finals-bound Northern Pride.
Intrust Super Cup: Burleigh 22 d Townsville 12
The Bears have taken a big step in their mission for a second premiership in three years after downing fellow powerhouse Townsville at Pizzey Park.
The Blackhawks led deep into the second half before tries to centre Josh Berkers and rookie forward Kai O’Donnell catapulted the hosts ahead.
The result puts Burleigh in the box seat for a top two finish – which they can guarantee if they defeat Easts next weekend – which in turn would give them a valuable second life in finals.
The Bears wasted little time in getting across the line, with pivot Dylan Phythian scoring in the second minute before the Blackhawks hit back twice through second-rower Andrew Davey.
FOOTBALL
NPL: Gold Coast 2 v SWQ Thunder 2 (HALF-TIME)
NPL Women’s: Logan 1 lead Gold Coast 0 (HALF-TIME)
Football fans at Station Reserve were treated to an early flurry of goals with four successful strikes landing inside the first 15 minutes.
The scoring settled from there to the break in what is United men’s last home game of the season.
The club’s women’s side entered half-time at Cornubia Park trailing by a goal.
Gold Coast Premier League: Broadbeach United v Surfers Paradise at Nikiforides Park, 5pm
Gold Coast Premier League: Coomera v Palm Beach at Viney Park, 5pm
Gold Coast Premier League: Nerang v Mudgeeraba at Glennon Park, 5pm
Gold Coast Premier League: Gold Coast Knights v Burleigh Heads at Croatian Sports Centre, 5pm
Gold Coast Premier League: Tweed United v Murwillumbah at Arkinstall Park, 5pm
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT …
NRL: Gold Coast 42 d Manly 34
The Titans hauled themselves out of wooden spoon danger with an inspired comeback at Brookvale Oval on Friday night.
Brothers Tom and Jake Trbojevic threatened to tear apart the visitors, scoring five tries between them as Manly opened up a 16-point lead inside 30 minutes.
But a try to impressive Titans fullback AJ Brimson on the stroke of halftime saw the floodgates open after the break.
Gold Coast scored another five tries to take the honours in the high-scoring affair and cap a horror week for the Sea Eagles.
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