University v Gold Coast St Lucia 3:00pm - 10/4/2010
26	Round 01	29

The Gold Coast Breakers have won their first game of the Premier season with a scrappy 29-26 come from behind victory against University at St Lucia.

Breakers coach Tom Rosewarne said although there were a few "kinks in the chain" he was happy to take the win.

“It wasn’t a pretty game, that’s for sure, but we’re definitely happy to take the win.

“We dug deep today and are happy with the effort. The whole 23 players contributed in the second half and really lifted their enthusiasm. But we will definitely be working on the intensity of our starts at training this week,” Rosewarne said.

In what turned out to be a tight struggle the round one match featured a high penalty count and poor ball handling from both teams, however some turnovers were forced by strong defence.

University dominated the first half but was unable to maintain intensity for the full 80 minutes.

Fly half Jono Lance opened the scoring with a penalty early in the first half, quickly followed by flanker Mitchell Wade scoring the club's first try of the season.

University wing Juan Van Vuuren and number eight Harry Elliot also scored tries, but Lance had a mixed day with his conversion attempts.

After getting nine points on the board through penalties, Breakers winger Phil Dumalow eventually broke through the University defence for a converted try.

Down 26-16 early in the second half, the Breakers inexorably worked their way back into the game, lifting their enthusiasm and commitment to tie and eventually win the match by three points.

Improving their field position early in the second half, Breakers fly-half Kayne Wahlstrom sailed over the try line for an unconverted try.

Breakers lock Milton Ngauamo tied up the game when he crossed for a try. A missed conversion by Dan Nethery added to the drama, but a Nethery penalty broke the tie and gave Gold Coast their first win of the season.

University coach Mick Heenan was left to lament the one that got away.

“The team played well in the first half and I was happy with the way they built pressure. But they tried to force the play too much in the second half,” Heenan said.

“There is definitely a lot of potential there, but we just need to simplify it, cut out the silly mistakes and be patient,” he said.

Gold Coast 29 (M Ngauamo, K Wahlstrom, D Nethery tries, D Nethery 4 pens, con) d University 26 (H Elliott, J Van Vuuren, M Wade tries, J Lance 3 pens,  con)

Match report by Grace Duckham