Alive and kicking

IN ONE penalty kick, Mitch Third breathed life into Bond University’s Queensland Premier Rugby season and silenced an Easts crowd that had been taunting him all afternoon.

The Bull Sharks headed north for a critical seventh versus sixth fixture on Saturday which took more twists and turns than the nearby Brisbane River.

Bond led 15-14 deep into the second half, only for Elijah Pilz to put the Tigers ahead with an 80th minute penalty from near the right sideline.

There was still just enough time, however, for Bond to take the restart and before long they found themselves on the attack in overtime.

Their persistence was rewarded with a penalty of their own, and it was Third who stepped up to take the kicking tee. The 23-year-old flyhalf calmly slotted the three points to seal an 18-17 victory that could well be season-defining for a side that is now just two points outside the top four.

“As a goalkicker, that’s what you love. Honestly, when the

penalty came I was sort of smiling and I was pretty happy because I like being in those types of situations,” Third said.

“And the bloody Easts crowd was giving it to me the whole game … they were giving me so much grief, so after I kicked the penalty goal I ran over and gave them the bird. It was pretty funny.”

Goalkicking has been an achilles heel for Bond this year but Third and captain Harry Nucifora have vowed to work together to improve.

Fullback Joey Fittock was named man of the match in a win that keeps the Bunter Bowl – obtained in their Round 12 victory against GPS – in Bond’s grasp for the time being.