Excitement machine Junior Laloifi scored a hat-trick of tries to take his season tally to 14 as Brisbane City put on a Buildcorp National Rugby Championship attacking masterclass to take the minor premiership.
Led by Liam Gill and marshalled astutely by Karmichael Hunt, the Queenslanders comfortably saw off the challenge of bottom-of-the-table Greater Sydney Rams (71-24) as the men from Ballymore also retained the Horan-Little Shield.
On a dramatic afternoon in Frankston, the Melbourne Rising claimed third position on the table with a hard-fought 18-10 win over the Sydney Stars. The losing bonus point for the Sydney Stars ensured they also qualified for the Semi-Finals in fourth.
The North Harbour Rays dreams of finals football were dashed with defeat at Bathurst against the NSW Country Eagles (50-24). Sam Figg notched twice and Waratahs fullback Andrew Kellaway also crossed over to ensure the Eagles remain a chance for a Semi-Finals berth.
The University of Canberra Vikings cemented second spot on the ladder with a 42-8 win over Queensland Country on the Sunshine Coast. Brumbies backs James Dargaville and Lausii Taliauli among the scorers.
Queensland Country v UC Vikings at Sunshine Coast Stadium, Sunshine Coast
UC Vikings 42 (M Third, B Hamlin, J Dargaville, L Lealua-iali-i-Makin, L Taliauli, D Penca tries; I Thompson 4 cons) defeated Queensland Country 8 (J Tuttle try; S Green 1 con)
CSU Country Eagles v North Harbour Rays at Ann Ashwood Park, Bathurst
CSU Country Eagles 50 (S Figg 2, D Horwitz, E Stubbs, A Kellaway, M Short, P Tuala tries; J Lance 5 cons) defeated North Harbour Rays 24 (J Holmes, H Bergelin, L Holmes tries; H Angus 3 cons)
Brisbane City v Greater Sydney Rams at Ballymore Stadium, Brisbane
Brisbane City 71 (A Korczyk, S Kerevi, J Laloifi 3, A Gibbon 2, K Hunt, M Sorovi, M Tela tries; J McIntyre 7 cons) defeated Greater Sydney Rams 24 (K Meafua, Penalty Try, J Hayes tries; D Roos 3 cons)
Melbourne Rising v Sydney Stars at Frankston Oval, Frankston
Melbourne Rising 18 (B Meehan, J Marsters, S Ili tries; J Debreczeni 1 con) defeated Sydney Stars 10 (H Jones, J Stewart tries)
Final 2015 Buildcorp NRC standings:
1 Brisbane City 38 points, 2 UC Vikings 35 points, 3 Melbourne Rising 20 points, 4 Sydney Stars 20 points, 5 CSU Country Eagles 19 points, 6 Perth Spirit 16 points, 7 North Harbour Rays 11 points, 8 Queensland Country 9 points, 9 Greater Sydney Rams 7 points
2015 Buildcorp NRC top try scorers after Round 9:
1. Junior Laloifi, Brisbane City, 14 tries
2. Harry Jones, Sydney Stars, 8 tries
3. Samu Kerevi, Brisbane City, 7 tries
3. Josh Holmes, North Harbour Rays, 7 tries
3. Jarrad Butler, UC Vikings, 7 tries
2015 Buildcorp NRC top points scorers after Round 9:
1. Jake McIntyre, Brisbane City, 118 points
2. Hamish Angus, North Harbour Rays, 86 points
3. Sam Greene, Queensland Country, 83 points
4. Jono Lance, CSU Country Eagles, 82 points
Buildcorp National Rugby Championship Semi-Finals schedule:
Friday 23 October, UC Vikings v Melbourne Rising; Viking Park, Canberra; 7.30pm AEDT, LIVE on FOX SPORTS 502
Saturday 24 October, Brisbane City v Sydney Stars; Ballymore Stadium, Brisbane; 6:30pm AEST / 7.30pm AEDT, lIVE on FOX SPORTS 502
