Drop goal sinks QAS U19
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A drop goal four minutes from fulltime put paid to the Queensland Academy of Sport Under 19s hopes of securing the Trans-Tasman Championships with a win over Otago U19 at Ballymore.
Queensland went into the match needing a win to secure the title, but Otago reversed their crushing defeat of last week with a 13-10 victory in the wet.
The loss left Queensland on 10 points, with Otago (8) and last year's winner Canterbury (7) each with a game in hand and due to play for the championship on their return to New Zealand.
Queensland had beaten Otago 41-16 when they met in Dunedin last week, but the Kiwis took command early, heading to a 10-0 lead before Michael Hobbs scored the try, converted by Andrew Krelle, that put them back in the match before halftime.
A penalty goal eight minutes into the second half by Krelle drew the two sides level, but as the rain settled in Queensland were kept pinned in their own half by astute Kiwi kicking and their own poor choice of options at crucial times.
A drop goal with just over four minutes on the clock after a succession of penalties took the wind out of the Queensland sails and the visitors held on to celebrate the fulltime whistle.
The QAS side defended strongly throughout, but Otago deserved credit for batting through when at one stage they had two players in the sinbin.
