BY MARK CASHMAN & ANDREW QUINN

GORDON (3) V SYDNEY UNIVERSITY (4) at Chatswood Oval

I’m going to delve into some hard core rugby history as we mull over Gordon’s spectacular 40-35 win over Sydney Uni in the qualifying final on Saturday.

The game featured plenty of dazzle dazzle, a huge comeback, great running skills and a try that I think is among the best five pointers I have seen in my time hacking around Sydney’s rugby grounds.

The Connor Hickey inspired and engineered try at the 50 minute mark turned this game on its head and gave the Highlanders the belief that they could win this one.

Let’s call it “the try from the other side of the tracks”, a nod to the one scored by France at Eden Park in July of 1994 that became known as l’essai du bout du monde – the try from the end of the world.

Philippe Saint-André started a move in his own 22 which, 65 seconds later, ended with Jean-Luc Sadourny crossing the New Zealand line to score, giving them a 23–20 victory.

It was the first time a side from a northern hemisphere nation had won a Test series against the All Blacks.

In metres run Hickey’s had the 1994 one covered with the ball falling into Gordon hands five metres out.

Hickey just put the key shoes on, chipped and regathered and managed to maintain his foot speed and balance to out pace the Uni defence to the line.

Uni fullback James McGregor was amongst those he beat to the line and I’m sure the fear factor escalated with Nick Champion Des Crespigny closing in late.

The Students up until then were pretty much in control after going into the halftime break 28-12 in front.

They had looked pretty handy with winger Benjy Joseland adding to his try tally with three in the first half.

But after losing skipper Matt Philip to a head knock early there were some cracks starting to show and as we know Gordon know how to exploit them.

And exploit them they did!

Tries to Milan Basson, Jack Hardy and Ronan Kelly after the break were all significant blows to Uni’s chances.

Over the past month or so I thought that Uni had become the roughy to win the comp and that the Highlanders didn’t have “the game” to win at finals time.

That all changed in the space of 80 minutes and has been underlined by “the try from the other side of the tracks” and their edge in the red zone.

EASTERN SUBURBS (1) V EASTWOOD (6) at Woollahra Oval

In terms of week one finals statements it was absolutely massive and to be honest must send a shiver down the spines of the other three clubs still alive in the race for the Shute Shield.

Eastern Suburbs ran in nine tries to three in their 59-22 demolition of Eastwood on Saturday.

You could tell that something was in the air at Woollahra early and that’s the way things turned out.

Beasties scrumhalf Teddy Wilson was on fire, determined to run the ball and his 14 other teammates certainly joined in on the party.

Wilson’s sense of when to pass and when to run was there for all to see and the confidence that he gets from performances like this will only help his chances at the next level.

In the end he notched up a couple of tries but I was impressed with the way that he was able to up the tempo of the game at the right time.

His speed of the mark is impressive and if the Beasties go on to win the Shute Shield he will play a key role.

This Easts group don’t die wondering with their attack in the wider channels and by the time halftime rolled around they were ahead 31-10 had the. Game very much in the bag.

It did take some time for the home side to get any sort of dominance but the Woods looked like they had played their big game the week before.

They would work their way back into the conversation with a good penalty try and a couple of nice ones to Isaac Crowe and Tom Goddard.

But as it has been at Woollahra most of the time of late the Beasties marched on.

Aside from Wilson, Sid Harvey was a major contributor and the usual suspects up front did their usual stuff.

One off the big boys Reon Lowery did get yellow carded at one stage but that really was a symptom of playing the game at the edges.

I’m sure they would be feeling this way as they read this summation but they can be happy with their season.

Considering the turmoil of players leaving in the off season to Gordon they did well to get as far as they did.

Anthony Griffin has been thrown the keys to continue the work in 2027 and they will be better for that.

They are a side that works hard and with a bit more depth will be even harder to toss next season.

WARRINGAH (2) V RANDWICK (5) at Pittwater Rugby Park

Finals footy is all about icing the moments and Warringah managed to do just that as they squeaked their way to a 31-26 win over Randwick on Sunday.

This was a classic game of two halves with the home side taking the high ground in the first 40 with four tries including a double to hooker Tom Gee and then the Wicks had their crack.

The Wicks managed to pear back the 24-12 home side lead in the second half and were in front 26-24 and I must say were looking the goods.

But the Rats managed to put on a try to No.8 Luke Reimer and he strolled over untouched after the home side had exhausted the Randwick defence.

There were some moments in the closing minutes with the Rats lucky to get a forward pass call late and also a high tackle on Felix Turinui when in a scoring position but was waved on.

Little wonder then that Reimer shook the hand of referee Matt Kellehan and his assistant on the grand stand edge at full-time with some relief.

From a Rats point of view it was a performance that was far from perfect and there will be some concern of the “rocks and diamonds” effort of flyhalf Byron Smith.

Smith drifted out the game almost completely in the second half and he will need to step up when they host Gordon this coming weekend for a spot in the grand final.

In Smith’s defence there was little ball to work with in the second 40 minutes and the boisterous game of fullback and sometimes first receiver Ben Marr over rode many things.

On the Randwick side of the ledger Onita Finau with his two tries was excellent while backrower Max Moore showed his class.

Isi Naisarani was excellent once again and Turinui controlled things well in a senior finals game for a first time.

Rats midfielder Tyson Davis was another to stand out for me while Archie Saunders took his chances well.

The home side will be happy with the result but will realise they will need to do more against the Highlanders.

The search for the perfect game continues!