By Alice Barker
In the QFA Division 2 Seniors Grand Final, Bond University proved to be strongest in the pack handing down a 38-point victory to Beenleigh on Sunday at Leyshon Park.
Bond was knocked out of the race in last year’s season by Coolangatta Tweed AFC in the Semi Final, the Students conceding to a ten-point defeat on their home ground.
This season they climbed their way up the ladder to rectify the record, and it paid off.
The same can’t be said for Beenleigh.
Last year their Grand Final spot was secured in the same round Bond lost their finals hopes, putting them in the best position to win only to be taken out by Park Ridge.
This year, they came from behind securing their ticket to the big dance in the Preliminary Finals beating Coolangatta by 22 points, only to be beaten by Bond in a 12.12-90 to 7.10-52 victory.
Bond’s coach Sam Whish-Wilson described the moment his team took out the QFA Division 2 Seniors competition as a well-deserved win for his team.
“This is the best way to cap the season off,” Whish-Wilson told aflq.com.au.
“I couldn’t be prouder of our club and the family we have created.”
It was obvious Bond was out for vengeance as they convincingly led the game, leaving Beenleigh in their dust from the first siren.
Bond scored the only majors of the term in the opening stanza through Mitchell Olarenshaw, Rhys King and Andrew Cannon, setting up the victory for their team.
“We had an extremely strong start and I knew we would be in with a chance,” Whish-Wilson said.
In the second term Beenleigh joined the race, with Callum Eddy booting the first goal of the quarter reducing the margin between the two sides.
Bond responded with a major from Benjamin Merrett but Eddy had already picked up some momentum and booted another two within the minute.
Without the support of his team Eddy couldn’t carry the Buffaloes to the final siren, which is when Bond started pulling away finishing off the half 34 points ahead.
The third quarter was much the same, Bond dominating the play while Beenleigh clutched at straws.
Mitchell Olarenshaw took out kick of the day with a huge effort from the 50m line securing their victory and Reece King was best on ground while Jacob Zingelmann and Declyn Goode made some impact on the scoreboard for the Buffaloes in the final term.
