A late converted try to lock Ben Cole and field goal to halfback Greg Robson gave Collegians a 19-12 win against a gallant Wollongong/University in a tense match at University Oval on Saturday.While the Illawarra Carlton League reigning premiers were a shade more polished when the game was there to be won, the Bulls proved they have plenty of heart in their ranks.Collies led 12-6 at half-time, with two of their three tries in this term coming from bombs, but the Bulls equalised straight after the break.The Bulls were first to score when centre Ken McGuinness forced his way over in the 15th minute, his try converted by five-eighth Warwick Carter.Collies then piled on three tries in six minutes, the first when winger Kurt Fittler put Cole away on a 35m run down the right side to score out wide.Five-eighth Grant Smith then hoisted a towering bomb and the ball bounced favourably for his brother, centre Ryan Smith, to dot down over the line.Then came another up-and-under, this time by Robson and co-captain and centre Wes Hallam won the aerial duel to score.The Bulls equalised in the 41st minute when prop Jarrod Dykes crashed over next to the posts for fellow front-rower Mick Karkainen to add the extras.The game then settled into an arm-wrestle as defence dominated attack in a gripping, high quality contest.But Cole collected his second try in the 72nd minute, converted by fullback Reece Simmonds, and Robson sealed victory three minutes later with a field goal.Collies coach Gavin Clinch had sensed this would be a danger match and he wasn't wrong as the Bulls made the premiers fight hard all the way."Both teams played really well and their (Wollongong/Uni's) defence was unbelievable," Clinch acknowledged."In fact, both teams' defence was great. It was a really good game of football."Collies will monitor the fitness of Hallam (shoulder) and second-rower Rimini Reweti (groin) this week going into the grand final rematch against Dapto at WIN Stadium on Sunday.Wollongong/Uni's new coach Aaron Raper was pleased with the Bulls' defence, especially in the second half."The defence was excellent, wasn't it?" Raper said."It was pretty much why we hung in there - the defence. In the first half we did get bumped off a lot and that's what we spoke about at half-time. Then when we actually made the tackles it was good."The Bulls' next game is against Wests at Parrish Park on Saturday.