Dark Knights in decider

Underdog status gone as Surfers face hard road

THERE could be a shift in power in Gold Coast District Rugby Union after all.

Though Griffith University Colleges clinched the minor premiership, the reality is that only happened because Surfers Paradise lost points for fielding an unregistered player early in the season.

And while Colleges struck first in the 2018 head-to-head stakes, two-time defending premiers Surfers took the honours on the other two occasions, including a fortnight ago.

But with direct entry to the grand final on the line, it was the Knights who had reason to celebrate on Saturday as flanker Tysen Urry’s pick-and-drive try edged his side ahead 20-18 after the buzzer.

It was a contest of dramatic momentum swings at Beattie Rd; Surfers flew to an 18-0 lead but it was all Colleges in the second half.

“We started poorly,” said Knights coach Graham Herlihy. “They scored two tries early and got off to a pretty good lead. At halftime I spoke to the boys that we just have got to fix up those little things and we changed our point of attack a little bit and it worked.”

Though it marked only the Dolphins’ second loss in three years – both have been by two points or less – Herlihy’s side can no longer claim underdog status, with a golden opportunity now to avoid a third straight runners-up finish.

“We’re quietly confident now,” Herlihy said. “To go straight into the grand final is a huge benefit … I was so relieved that we can have the week off, get over our niggles and prepare for that grand final.

“They (Surfers) have had that benefit for the last couple of years so it is good to be on the other end for once.”

Each side had a player red carded: Jesse Mcgilvary for Surfers and Pila Fifita for Colleges.

Surfers had been expected to face the tough task of Helensvale at Helensvale in the preliminary final until the Gold Coast Eagles pipped the Hogs in an upset yesterday.