BOND TAUGHT A LESSON IN CONSISTENCY
@obrien_GCB BOND University have again been caught short by their brittle defence as Gold Coast product Jack Cornelsen spearheaded a rampant University of Queensland outfit.
Bond were well in the contest throughout the first term of the Queensland Premier Rugby match, trailing 19-10 at half-time, but they fell away thereafter in front of their home crowd to be on the receiving end of a 52-17 walloping.
Chief among the carnage for the Red Heavies was hattrick hero Cornelsen.
The back-rower is the son of Wallabies legend Greg Cornelsen, who is famous for his four-try haul against the All Blacks at Eden Park in 1978.
The result on Saturday has left the two university sides at opposite ends of the ladder.
University of Queensland are undefeated at the halfway point of the competition, having piled on 61 tries across eight matches to carry a positive 236 differential.
They have scored 25 more five-pointers than any of their rivals.
Bond University have only 18 in that column and have been sent back to the bottom of the ladder following Norths’ upset win over Wests.
It has now been 65 days since Bond last tasted victory – and since that Round 1 defeat of Norths, they have conceded a worrying 34 points per game.
Bond skipper Sam Clifton said consistency across the 80 minutes would be the team’s main area of focus.
W Uni of Qld 8 GPS 6 Sunnybank 4 Wests 4 Brothers 4 Easts 3 Norths 2 Souths 2 Bond Uni 1 L 0 2 3 4 3 5 6 5 6 D Diff BP 0 236 5 0 75 3 1 36 4 0 -19 3 1 -43 0 0 -14 3 0 -37 2 1 -115 0 1 -119 1 Pts 37 27 22 19 18 15 10 10 7
“There is nothing structurally wrong (with our defence), it’s just our inability to continuously do it,” said the well-spoken prop.
“We do it really well for a period of 10 minutes and then we might fall off.
“We might pick it up again but it is just that inconsistency that’s killing us.
“Full credit to UQ, they’re a quality side.
“It’s the sixth time they have scored more than 50 points this season. They’re definitely a great side.”
Clifton took positives from the periods, namely the opening 30 minutes, in which Bond were “really sticking it to” the visitors but conceded superior fitness had helped their opponents finish well and avoid making errors under duress.
The Robina side, however, remain within 12 points of the top four courtesy of Wests’ loss.
Bond must kickstart a run of hot form this Saturday at home against Sunnybank if they are to keep themselves realistically in the finals race.
Forwards Cadeyrn Neville and Tai Ford crossed for Bond against University of Queensland while Mitch Third booted both conversions and a penalty.