Bond Uni ready for influx of youth and pride
“IT’S all about pride now.”
That’s how Bond University coach Sean Hedger sees it after a 38-27 Queensland Premier Rugby loss to Easts extended his side’s winless run to nine matches.
“They (our players) prepared really well … their intensity and their desire is still there. It’s just that we have got a few weaknesses in key positions,” he said.
Bond were in the contest at halftime on Saturday, trailing 21-15, but were brought undone early in the second term by a yellow card to two-try star Tai Ford.
“The referee deemed it was a cynical penalty slowing the ball down after they made a big line break,” Hedger said.
“I thought he was unlucky because he actually stole the ball legally.”
A man up at the scrum while No.8 Ford was off, Easts capitalised to score a penalty try.
Hedger conceded that his squad’s overall performance was simply not good enough.
“Probably our lack of ball control ended up killing us a bit,” he said.
“Also our backline defence was horrendous.
“They scored two set-piece tries which doesn’t usually happen that often so our defensive combinations in the backs weren’t working.”
Bond will now look to reset with a bye next round plus a competition-wide weekend off later this month.
“We have only got one game in the next three weeks so it will be a good chance to freshen up,” Hedger said.
“All of our players will be back from the Aussie under-20s and we can inject a whole heap of youth and enthusiasm into the team to finish the season off.”
Bond’s Hamish Stewart, Harry Nucifora, Dylan Riley, Angus Blyth and Gavin Luka are all in Georgia with the national side competing for the world rugby under-20s championship which concludes on June 19.