THE Roma Echidnas slumped to another defeat in their second last home game of the season. In another tough outing for the local rugby side, visitors UQ/Highfields ran out 33-19 winners though the 14 point deficit does not tell the whole story and they were in with a sniff until a breakaway try in the last minute.

Roma started well with seven points on the board in the early minutes. But they were to pay dearly in the first half for their inability to control possession. Roma could not hold the Black Pigs' speed merchants who showed Roma defenders a clean pair of heels on three occasions to send the visitors into half time with what looked like a comfortable 21-7 lead.

Coach Matt Edwards put some backbone in the side at the break and they came out firing early on in the second stanza.  Some slick interchange of passing unlocked UQ/Highfields' defence and although Matt Howse could not nail the conversion, they were back in it at 21-12.

Once again however, the Echidnas proved vulnerable to the counter-attack and with ten minutes left on the clock, another burst of visitors speed made it 26-12.

Credit to Roma who never gave up and some excellent work by Matt Howse led to their third try. His conversion made it a seven point ballgame and a late chance to level proceedings.

But with Roma gambling, the Black Pigs capitalised on another mistake to seal the game.

UQ/Highfields forfeited the reserve game.

Roma's last home game for the season is against Dalby next Saturday.