by Paul Cook –

Minor Premiers for the first time since 2009, Sydney University went into this clash knowing that even defeat would see them line up in next weekend’s Intrust Super Shute Shield semi-finals. But a chance to knock out a respected foe, and reigning Premier, in Eastwood, whilst maintaining momentum into the final four, ensured they weren’t going in with anything other than victory on their agenda. The Woodies meanwhile, had snuck into the finals through the back door, courtesy of that late, late drama at North Sydney Oval the previous Saturday. But now they were there, they were a team that everyone else still feared, and one driven by the knowledge that a loss would end their hopes of a third successive title.

A blustery afternoon in the winter sun started inauspiciously for the visitors, a rare Jai Ayoub kick out on the full opening proceedings, before a dropped ball from their first attack blotted the gun flyhalves copybook even further. But you can’t keep a good man down for long, and from his next play, the Woodies no.10 came up with a peach of a kick to the corner for Cam Mitchell to dot down with the minimum of fuss.

Whether it was the stiff breeze or big match nerves, it was catching, the normally reliable Angus Roberts clearing his first kick-out on the full after the restart for Uni, and giving the visitors another platform with which to try and prosper – and they very nearly did.

But after putting together an impressive 15 phases off the lineout, albeit in the face of some stout Uni defence, a loose pass from Damien Fitzpatrick was picked off by Jim Stewart inside his own 22, and the recently-capped Waratah didn’t disappoint. After running straight between a wrong-footed Rhys Allen and Jared Barry, he side-stepped a desperate lunge from Michael McDougall before galloping away to the posts for a somewhat fortuitous riposte.

The try sparked Uni into life however, and they held the lion’s share of possession for the next few minutes, hooker Folau Fainga’a getting through plenty of work with his carries and clean-outs, while speedy winger Christian Kagiassis was always a handful in contact. But after soaking up the pressure, it was the Woodies who kicked on to take the game almost out of reach from their hosts, a blistering 17pt salvo inside 10 minutes the catalyst for a healthy half-time lead.

Ayoub – who else? – led the charge. It was his line break that got his side back within range in the 16th minute, and his penalty that punished a Uni offside to put them a point ahead at 8-7. When Michael Kovacic took advantage of some lacklustre defence two minutes later – the Uni line parting like the Red Sea as it fanned out for the next phase but leaving a five-point shaped hole in the process – Ayoub’s conversion had them in control. But it was the next score, from the effervescent Fitzpatrick, that had the travelling Woodies faithful out of their seats and with one eye on a semi-final.

Emerging from a ruck just inside the Students’ half, the former – and perhaps future – Waratah hooker, strode away into empty field before trading passes with the supporting Cohen Masson, and fending off the tackle of fullback Roberts to stretch for the visitor’s third of the afternoon. Ayoub added the extras to make it 22-7, and the reigning Premiers were beginning to resemble the dominant outfit of recent seasons.

With their grasp on the game becoming more tenuous by the minute, the Students needed to score next. Camping in the Eastwood 22, they tapped a couple of offside penalties before a Fainga’a surge was held up over the line. But when a signature Roberts burst got them back in the red zone, and a few softening-up phases had exposed a gap in the Eastwood rearguard, flyhalf Stu Dunbar didn’t need a second invitation to swivel his way through it and feed Fainga’a off his shoulder for the line.

However, as has been an achilles heel all season, Uni’s ability to concede a soft one after scoring was exposed once again. Eastwood fullback Johnathan Malo had been an elusive presence with ball in hand to that point, but he seemingly had spiders on him as he jinked his way past several gold and blue jerseys with far too much ease to help restore the Woodies advantage.

For a team that has already come back from 34-0 this year to win, a 15pt deficit at the break was hardly unattainable for the Students, and one wondered just how many points that swirling winter chill was worth as well. But given the nature of the occasion and its importance to their opponents, Uni would still need to find some second half to turn this one around.

And whether it was the wind behind their backs or a half-time gee-up, they certainly started the second half in positive fashion, Dunbar playing a bit flatter to the line and starting to find his runners coming in at better angles. Jim Stewart powered through a gap in the 45th minute, and would have scored had he not lost his footing stepping the last man, but due warning had been served.

Replacements from both sides a minute later saw four traditional hookers on the field at the same time, Waratah rakes Hugh Roach and Tolu Latu joining the fray in the blindside flanker and loosehead prop positions respectively, with Fainga’a and Fizpatrick continuing to shine.

Fainga’a in particular was having a whale of a game, and it was another barnstorming run of his down the right flank that helped pave the way for Uni’s deserved third. Switching across field, a lovely decoy run from Rohan O’Regan opened up a gap for Stewart to plunder, and when the ball went wide, Kagiassis had the overlap to run home.

Uni were warming to the task, increasing the pace while the Woodies began to look tired. A rumble off a lineout saw Matt Philip go close before the alert Latu powered over from a metre. And they were in front just after the hour, Dunbar on fire as he streaked through a hole on halfway before bulleting a pass wide for Jack Redden to go in for a 31-29 lead.

From a relatively positive position, Eastwood’s tenure as Premiers was suddenly on the wane as a vibrant Students side attempted to run them off their feet. But a champion side doesn’t go down without a fight, and from their first visit to the opposition 22 of the half, Ayoub restored a one-point advantage when Uni were pinged for not rolling away.

Back came the Students, a burst from Philip getting them close before a knockdown from Cam Mitchell – deemed ok by ref Will Houston – prevented a certain try from the man outside him. But another surge from the explosive Latu skittled the Woods defence and Dunbar pounced, delaying his pass nicely before putting it on a dime for Fainga’a to streak through for his second of the day.

With only a few minutes remaining, Kagiassis twisted the knife with another 3pts after his forwards had wheeled the Eastwood scrum, to make it 41-32. And while the Woodies toiled manfully til the end, they couldn’t make any further impression on the Uni line. As a result, the Students can look ahead to yet another semi-final, while Eastwood are left to reflect on the end of their terrific two-year Premiership reign.

Sydney University 41 (Folau Fainga’a 2, Jim Stewart, Christian Kagiassis, Tolu Latu, Jack Redden tries; Christian Kagiassis 4 cons, pen) defeated Eastwood 32 (Cam Mitchell, Michael Kovacic, Damien Fitzpatrick, Johnathan Malo tries; Jai Ayoub 3 cons, 2 pens) HT 14-29 at University Oval No.2