By Angus Hayman

The Colts Grand Final delivered almost exactly what the season’s numbers had promised.

Randwick’s fast, brutally physical brand of rugby that had carried them to the minor premiership proved too much for Gordon, as the Galloping Greens ran away with a 55–21 victory at Coogee Oval to cap off a near-perfect season.

For the budding Randwick faithful, it was a performance that showcased everything they had come to expect from their side.

Charlie Bird’s kicking game was outstanding, repeatedly finding touch and dragging Randwick out of their own half, while Luca Cleverly was devastating with ball in hand. Out wide, the outrageously quick Bailey Roberts-Lintmeijer crossed twice, while hooker Tyler Maybery also found the line on two occasions through the maul.

The set piece provided one of the more fascinating battles of the afternoon.

Gordon’s scrum proved dominant at times, but their eagerness also cost them, with penalties conceded at crucial moments. Randwick held the advantage at lineout time, where Cooper Green and Zion Poitaha disrupted Gordon’s ball and gave their side a reliable platform.

A rolling maul gave Randwick the perfect start, with Maybery finishing off the opening try. Bird then produced an excellent offload before Randwick broke the Gordon line and moved the ball quickly, eventually finding Roberts-Lintmeijer in space. The winger raced away to make it 14–0.

Gordon responded after several entries into Randwick’s red zone. Their set piece finally clicked, with the rolling maul carrying Sebastian Gyngell over the line to reduce the margin to 14–7.

Randwick, however, scored again just before halftime. Quick hands and a series of offloads created space through the Gordon defence, allowing fullback Marlon Frost to finish the move. Bird added a penalty goal, giving Randwick a 22–7 lead at the break.

Gordon dominated territory early in the second half, but Randwick’s goal-line defence held firm. Despite the pressure, Gordon came away without points, while Tyler Birnie struggled to find his usual influence in attack.

Randwick eventually broke out and scored from a pick-and-go. From there, the margin continued to grow.

Cleverly then took a tip pass around 20 metres out and ran through untouched under the posts. Roberts-Lintmeijer followed with his second try, beating his opposite number with an inside to outside step before racing away. The score had blown out to 41–7.

Another successful 50/22 put Randwick deep inside the Gordon 22, where further pressure produced another pick-and-go try. Reserve front-rower David-Lavondre Bloomfield then finished off a break away try as Randwick continued to punish Gordon’s mistakes.

Gordon kept playing and scored two late tries through James Griffith and Will Farrah. Ezekial Logo and Mitchell Holmes were valiant throughout, but Gordon could not sustain enough pressure against a Randwick side that had controlled the contest for long periods.

Fittingly, Gordon had been the only team to beat Randwick during the regular season. But the Grand Final showed that Round 13 had been the exception rather than the rule.

Randwick’s 55–21 victory confirmed the brilliance of coach Jack Harrison and his playing group, going back-to-back as the clear best team in the competition and securing the Heffernan Shield after a near-perfect season.