Fullback Jack Macklin scores Sydney Uni’s first try against Southern Districts
Photo: AJF Phography

by Felicity Nethery –

Despite an attacking display from the Students backline, solid defence and a well executed set-piece proved the difference for Sydney University as they defeated Southern Districts 30-18 at Forshaw Park.

University coach Chris Malone paid homage to his side’s diligence, “It was really our defence that won us the match. I thought it was a tight game of first grade footy and in the first half it was really an arm wrestle for a while but we just had to keep being diligent and keep trying to hold them out.”

“We knew we had to defend really well as they’ve [Southern] got some dangerous footballers right across the park, but it was also that our whole set piece functioned a lot better today and as we know you’ve got to win your ball to be able to compete at this level.” Malone told Rugby News.

After running in four tries to two, the win for Sydney University sees them claim another bonus-point for the season while Southern Districts home ground luck continues to be missing.

Rebels captain Jed Holloway said it himself,  “I don’t know what it is but we just can’t seem to win at home.”

It was a stop start first 30 minutes with both sides struggling to gain any ascendancy until late in the half. Souths notched the first points of the match and held onto a 3-0 lead after an early penalty from the boot of flyhalf Rohan Saifoloi. The Rebels later looked like they might be the first to cross the chalk stringing together a strong set of phases and finally spending some time in University’s half, but solid defence from the blue and gold quelled the Rebels’ charges.

Sydney Uni wing flyer,Henry Clunies-Ross touches down for the first of his two tries – Photo: AJF Photography

University soon responded with their own attack using clean ball off a well executed line out close at the line and shifting the ball through the hands to find fullback Jack Macklin out wide who finished in the corner. University number 10 Dan Kelly added the extras to put Uni in front 7-3 heading into the break.

In the opening minutes of the second-half Kelly stretched the Students lead with a penalty right in front before Southern’s forward pack mounted a fight back with a set of pick and drives at the line ending with prop Tim Metcher claiming the five points on the bottom of the crowded heap.

University hit back straight away with the fast feet of winger Henry Clunies-Ross splitting the Rebels’ defence from 20 metres out to give Uni their second converted try of the match.

The Students had most of the momentum and secured majority of the possession for the second 40 managing to work well executed line outs and showing huge improvements at scrum time, as their young front row fought back from a first half dominance from the enforcing Rebels forwards.

With 25 minutes remaining Southern kept in touch with another penalty to trail Uni by 6 points.

University stayed committed to shifting the ball and reaped the benefits for their attacking efforts twice in 6 minutes with half-back Jake Gordon first crossing the line before Clunies-Ross blitzing pace and fancy footwork created space for a wide play that the speedy winger started and would end up finishing with a dive over in the corner scoring his second and Uni’s bonus-point try. The missed conversions kept University’s lead to 27-11 with 15 minutes left to play.

Jake Gordon scores try number three for the Students – Photo: AJF Photography

Spearheaded by captain and number eight Jed Holloway the Rebels’ forwards threatened again with a series of big shoves on University’s line but the blue and gold defence was just too strong.

A bad splayed kick from the Uni fly-half gifted Southern an attacking line out ending with a consolation try for South’s Steve Fualau who produced the hit and spin at the line, but with only four minutes remaining it was a case of too little too late for the Rebels. A penalty on full-time had the Students seal victory at Forshaw 30 points to 18.

Sydney University 30 (Henry Clunies-Ross 2, Jake Gordon, Jack Macklin tries, Dan Kelly 2 cons; Dan Kelly 2 pens) defeated Southern Districts 18 (Steve Fualau, Tim Metcher tries, Rohan Saifoloi con; Rohan Saifoloi 2 pens)