BY MARK CASHMAN

If one of the sports betting agencies was framing a market on whether Henry Clunies-Ross would get to play his 100th first grade match for the Students the odds would have to be absolutely astronomical.

After all the 29-year-old has been through the metaphorical wringer with a range of injuries and ailments that must be worthy of some sort of post graduate study.

Clunies-Ross journey of mishaps and bad luck started in 2013 when he had his appendix removed a couple of days before the first grade colts grand final.

Things didn’t stop there and there was the well documented flash-eating bug that he picked up in 2019 after getting tangled up with a corner post.

It was a bug that kills one in four people it infects, but after five surgeries and a long rehab, he recovered.

Then there was the ruptured spleen in 2022 that he initially thought was nothing major and the advice from some of his mates was that a couple of beers would “fix” anything that was going on.

His journey has extended far beyond club rugby. He has had a decorated representative career in the Aussie 7s, Waratahs, NSW Country Eagles, Sydney Stars and even a trip abroad to play with Lyon in France.

This year he’s very much the senior hand in the Uni backline but there is still the eye for a gap and the speed of foot that has always been there.

That century milestone was reached at the weekend when he ran on for the Students against Warringah at home but in a twist Uni conceded a handy lead with minutes left on the clock.

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The smart ones say that defence wins premiership and as we head into Round 6 of the Shute Shield, Around The Traps thought it would be timely to have a look at the points against stats for all the clubs.

Last year’s premiers Randwick leads the “miserly ladder” having conceded only 99 points in their five games so far this year.

And not far behind them are Warringah and Northern Suburbs who have both let in 103 points each while Gordon are the other club of note having conceded only 112.

One thing is for sure, the side that has its defence in tippy top shape come finals time will be the one to beat.

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It’s a skill that isn’t taken advantage of much these days and on a wet day can be the difference between winning or losing.

The old “have a crack at a field goal when there’s not much else on from 45m out” play and it got Eastwood on the front foot in their Colin Caird Shield thriller at Woollahra.

Woodies fullback John Connolly gave it a crack a couple of minutes into the game against the Beasties – it came sweetly off the ball and sailed straight between the posts.

Not a bad idea to kick start a game on a wet weekend.

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If you were wondering why Wallabies and Randwick great Simon Poidevin wasn’t working the crowd in his usual manner at last weekend’s Shute Shield match of the round well there was good reason.

‘The King’ had tested positive to COVID and was making sure that he was keeping his distance from the good crowd at North Sydney Oval.

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Good to see that the Hunter Wildfires are sending visiting Shute Shield teams back down the M1 with a unique experience.

The Wildfires celebrated Heritage Day when they hosted the Two Blues – and got a 17-15 win – but afterwards they put on what looked like a “great spread”.

And yes there was plenty of KFC!

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Around The Traps was talking to a few of the Norths fourth graders at the memorial for Norm ‘Nobby’ Osborne last week and they told us of the massive centre pairing that they have.

We told you a few weeks back that Nemani Nadolo was having a run when work commitments allowed but his 130kg frame has been topped up by the arrival of Aisea Faingaanuku who’s an agile outside centre close to 140kg.

No prizes for guessing the game plan when these two big boppers are pulling on the red and black!

While we’re talking about the Osborne memorial we can report that close to 300 attended Percy’s Hotel opposite North Sydney Oval and some estimated that there was pretty close to 10,000 games experience on hand to honour one of the greats.

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Interesting coaching match up down at Rat Park on Saturday with Josh Holmes and Ben Batger locking horns.

Warringah’s always informative newsletter informs us that Holmes and Batger were squad mates at Australian Under 20s level and have swapped tips and feedback all through their careers on the field and with clipboard in hand.

Not sure if there was any correspondence entered into this week for what will be one of the better Shute Shield games this weekend.

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The journey to Forshaw Rugby Park and the bridge toll may well test a Manly Marlins supporter’s stated intention of attending all 18 of the side’s home and away games this season.

Marlins Fillets, the club’s highly professional newsletter, said said Marlins fan had even given his partner a copy of the Shute Shield draw to track his weekend whereabouts.

Obviously he’s not going there only for the rugby, he wants to get his gob around one of those famous Forshaw burgers loved by the Shute Shield’s footy food connoisseurs.

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Stan Sport does an outstanding job with their extensive coverage of the Shute Shield – live streams, mini matches and highlights it’s all there for the rusted on club rugby tragic.

But it doesn’t stop there with NSW Rugby TV now streaming all the lower grade games and colts matches.

Have a look on nswrugbytv.com.au it’s worth the effort.