Griffith University Colleges Knights bounce back from loss to smash Bond Pirates

Griffith University Colleges captain Jaye Paton concedes complacency was creeping into the Gold Coast District Rugby Union defending premiers’ camp before their Round 7 loss to Surfers Paradise.

GRIFFITH University Colleges captain Jaye Paton concedes complacency was creeping into the Gold Coast District Rugby Union defending premiers’ camp before their Round 7 loss to Surfers Paradise.

The Knights had impressed through the early stages of the season but were disappointed with their efforts in a 19-12 defeat at the hands of archrivals Surfers Paradise last weekend.

They bounced back in style at their next opportunity, thrashing Bond Pirates 60-7 on Saturday.

“It was good. Our structures were good on Saturday and we fixed up a few things we needed to work on,” Paton said.

“We’re just trying to get a bit better every week but we’re on the right track now after last week.

Knights skipper Jaye Paton. Picture: Jerad Williams

“That loss will do us the world of good. I think a bit of complacency might have been creeping in so that loss really made all of the boys step up and hopefully be onto bigger and better things.”

The Pirates scored first at the Ashmore TAFE field but it was all one-way traffic in the home side’s favour from there.

“We’re happy with where we are,” Paton said.

“The comp seems to be a lot closer this year with pretty much every team being competitive, which is great. We are just focused on week to week and obviously just building for the end of the season.”

They’ll next face Nerang – for the third time in 2019 – who lost 37-22 against Helensvale on Saturday.

In the round’s other match, Gold Coast Eagles gave Surfers a major scare at Albert Park.

The Eagles, preliminary finalists last year, are yet to win a game this season but have now gone close to beating the Dolphins on two occasions.

Surfers ultimately got the job done in a 25-22 nail-biter.