GCDRU Semi-Final: Griffith Uni Colleges v PBC Alleygators
The Gold Coast Bulletin will livestream the postponed GCDRU Major Semi-Final between Griffith University Colleges Knights and Palm Beach Currumbin Alleygators at 4pm.
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The Griffith University Colleges Knights survived their greatest test yet in a 20-14 thriller against Palm Beach Currumbin.
The Knights led by one point in the final two minutes before a try to winger Blake Griffin delivered them into the final.
Watch the replay from 7.15pm.
MATCH REPORT
GRIFFITH University Colleges Knights and Nerang Bulls will contest the Gold Coast and District Rugby Union grand final after surviving thrilling conclusions to their semi-final clashes.
Next weekend’s decider will be Colleges’ fifth-straight grand final appearance while Nerang have a chance to make history by wining their first title since 2006.
History will ensure both clubs come ready to play on Saturday.
For Nerang, a premiership would erase the foul taste left by their demotion to second grade three years ago.
Colleges, despite appearing in four straight finals, have raised the Phil Temperton Cup just once since 1997, with an unenviable track record in first-grade grand finals since 2016.
That post-season malaise threatened to unseat them again yesterday.
It took the Knights 30 minutes to emerge from their slumber against a valiant Palm Beach Currumbin Alleygators side and 78 minutes to land the knockout blow and book their place in the final.
Colleges, whose average margin of victory this year eclipsed 31 points per game, led by just one point with two minutes to go against an Alleygators side reeling from the 24-hour delay to kick-off forced by rain, hail and lightning that descended upon the Coast ahead of their Saturday fixture.
The delay threatened to force as many as nine members of their squad out of the match because their faith would not allow them to take the field on Sunday.
The players who remained played the perfect underdog’s hand and had every chance to force a boilover even after Knights winger Blake Griffin’s last-minute try carried scores to 20-14.
The Knights had been held to 30 points or lower just twice until the semi-final but the Alleygators turned on the best defensive performance of their season to frustrate the team into a season-low 20 points.
Colleges held on for the ride as the Alleygators launched a frenzied final assault sparked by Bob Sinclair Medal nominee Rodney Pita and giant winger Hala Manila.
Halfback Pita’s electric running from the ruckbase almost inspired his side to the unthinkable as the Gators came within 25m of ending the Knights’ 13-game undefeated run and creating their own fairytale.
But Colleges’ big-game experience shone through the frenetic final period, with captain Jaye Paton and former Wallabies tourist Richard Kingi inspiring the defence to cling on for the win.
It took 15 minutes for Blake Griffin’s first try, following a costly error by Gators fullback Ethan Lolesio, and 35 minutes for their fullback Connor Kennedy to score again to take the team into the sheds ahead 12-5.
A yellow card to Gators back-rower Logo Fotofili on the stroke of halftime should have opened the floodgates but the Knights only managed a penalty goal to flyhalf Cayden Matehaere with their man-advantage.
On the opposite side of the field, flyhalf Mitch Currie was incessant in building scoreboard pressure with three second-half penalty goals to draw within a point of the Knights, 15-14, with 15 minutes to play.
EARLIER
The Gold Coast Bulletin will livestream the postponed GCDRU Major Semi-Final between Griffith University Colleges Knights and Palm Beach Currumbin Alleygators at 4pm.
The match has been moved to Surfers Paradise Rugby Club and will be played simultaneously to the Minor Semi-Final featuring Nerang and Helensvale.
Watch both games at once or tune in for a replay at the conclusion of the match - the choice is yours.
EARLIER:
Due to lightning and hail on the Gold Coast, Saturday’s semi-final clash between Griffith University Colleges Knights and Palm Beach Currumbin has been postponed by 24 hours. The match will be played at Surfers Paradise Rugby Club’s field 2 at 4pm Sunday.
The Bulletin will endevour to live stream the game as originally planned and will update readers tomorrow morning.
EARLIER:
A place in the 2020 Gold Coast District Rugby Union Final will be decided on Saturday when frontrunners Griffith University Colleges Knights take on Palm Beach Currumbin Alleygators.
Action will commence from 4pm on neutral territory at James Overell Park, the home of the Gold Coast Eagles, hosts what should be a fierce clash.
The Knights have proven unstoppable in 2020 with 64 competition points from a possible 65 after inclement weather forced a round-one draw.
>>> WATCH LIVE IN THE WINDOW ABOVE
The Gators were the second team to guarantee their place in the finals but a loss in the final round - a 31-10 defeat to Colleges - meant they drew the post-season short straw with a rematch in the semi-final.
Can the Alleygators learn from their mistakes of last week to produce the shock of the Gold Coast District Rugby Union season?
Or will the Colleges juggernaut roll through for a perfect 3/3 streak against this opposition?
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