IN the Central Queensland rugby union competition it is generally accepted that University will have a young and flamboyant side, and that the Blackwater Basilisks will be bigger, a bit slower but more structured.

Every time they meet, the team that is able to play to its natural strengths is the team that usually wins.

And so it was in Rockhampton on the weekend when the young University side beat the Basilisks 29 points to 10.

The scoreline was not a great reflection of the game in so far as two of Uni’s tries came out of nothing other than a brief opportunity and a bit of luck.

But taking those tries out of it, they would have still won the game.

While the Basilisks were short a few key players, Coach Alan Hannah says they need to learn from the experience if they want to be a genuine contender come finals time.

“We did have a few players missing, but I think in the end we were just out enthused,” he said.

“They were definitely the younger and faster side, but when we are up against teams like that we just have to control the structure more.”

“ I said last week we were a bit disorganised in defence, and this week was much better , so we are getting there, but really I think we just didn’t run up with the right attitude.”

When a team is getting outpaced, it can point to an issue with fitness, but Hannah says it’s not an area he is concerned with.

His biggest concern is about how they manage the speed and tempo of the game to their own benefit.

Their ability to do that will be tested this weekend when they play top of the table Brothers at home in Blackwater.

Hannah says they expect to have everyone available for that game