IT was wet, wild and willing on the water-logged Gold Coast on Saturday afternoon.

But cool, calm and collected co-captain Eli Pilz rose above the calamity to kick the Stara Easts Tigers to a gutsy 22-20 victory over Bond University.

The Tigers remain undefeated in their 2025 StoreLocal Hospital Cup title tilt with their third-straight victory that was built on toughness and tenacity after torrential weather lashed Bond’s home ground to the point that the 3.05pm kick-off was pushed back.

Pilz’s decisive penalty goal from 25 metres out and to the left of the posts in the dying minutes separated the sides after an old fashioned 80-minute wet weather slugfest when field position was king.

The Tigers held a 19-12 buffer with 20 minutes to play but Bond lifted in their first home game of 2025 to cross for a try and slot a penalty to grab a 20-19 lead with seven minutes left in regular time.

After a well-executed exit from their own half with Pilz and Meli Dreu combining beautifully, the Bullsharks committed another handling error from an Easts kick to open the door for the visitors.

The Tigers won a penalty from a scrum and Pilz stepped up to deliver the game winner before Easts controlled possession to take time off the clock then defended grimly in injury time to ice the contest.

Pilz’s right boot got him in trouble in the first half with a yellow card for over vigorous rucking as the Tigers got off to a frustrating start.

Bond were also reduced to 14 men soon after and the Tigers took advantage with tries to co-captain Will Sankey and hooker Max Craig who was elevated into the starting line-up after dynamic contributions off the bench.

Easts’ 12-5 halftime advantage quickly disappeared when Bond crossed soon after the resumption of play and the home side proceeded to enjoy the upper hand with field position and possession.

Midway through the second stanza, and in a rare foray into Bond territory, the Tigers produced a dominant and fast-moving rolling maul that allowed replacement hooker Andrew Ready to crash over for an important five-pointer.

The kicking games of Pilz, Dreu and flyhalf Lachlan Kirk were critical on the day as they relieved pressure on their own side or put the fumbly Bond back three under the pump.

It was not a day for backs but Tigers inside centre Matt Smit was a tower of strength in the midfield with hard carries and crunching defence.

The Easts pack – to a man – fought the good fight all day and could walk away with their heads held high after overcoming a determined opposition and difficult conditions to be the cornerstone for the win.

Due to the competition-wide Easter break and a Round 4 bye, the Tigers will not be on the prowl again until the Round 5 home game against University on Saturday, May 3.