Randwick defeated Eastern Suburbs in a hard fought arm-wrestle at Woollahra Oval
in Round 13 of the Shute Shield. Photo: seiserphotography.com

by Brendan Bradford –

Randwick have ground out a 22-13 win over arch-rivals Eastern Suburbs at Woollahra Oval to avenge their Round Four loss on ANZAC Day and move to seventh on the table.

The Galloping Greens eventually ran out three-tries-to-one victors after storming out to an early lead and leaving the Beasties chasing the game.

Wicks captain Seilala ‘Lala’ Lam revealed coach Wade Kelly had given the team more responsibility in the lead-up to the match after a few inconsistent performances recently and said the wake-up call was just what they needed to kick into action.

“I think it just took a bit of silence from him to get the guys switched onto their responsibilities on the park and off the field with everyone knowing their roles and it just made us do the job a lot better,” said Lam.

Hard-working Eastern Suburbs prop Sione Kolo
gets an offload away in a tackle by Toa Asa
Photo: seiserphotography.com

“That silent treatment, especially from him because he usually talks quite a bit, really worked and it was awesome to come down here and get a win after they did the same thing to us earlier in the season.

“We were a bit down after the last few weeks in terms of results but I was really happy with the way the boys played in tough conditions. Easts are really good at the breakdown and there were a lot of penalties which slowed the game down and made it a bit boring, but I’m just happy with the win.”

Struggling to rebound after the slow start, Easts looked likely throughout the second half but were unable to convert a slew of penalties into points, something captain Pauli Taumoepeau says is creeping into his side’s game.

“With the little ball we had, we did really well to be there at half time and we were defending well, but just couldn’t piece things together which is so frustrating, because it seems like we’re about to do something, then it doesn’t happen,” said Taumoepeau.

“We’re just missing that connecting piece and it’s been creeping in in the last few weeks against Penrith and Uni, but I think the fact that it’s just started, it’s probably pretty fresh in our minds how to get it back and I’m sure we’ll be able to fix it.”

The Beasties got off to the worst possible start when lock Phil Mathers went down injured in his first tackle of the game before Rennie Lautolo put on one of the biggest fends you’ll see in club rugby to make a line-break on halfway and put Pete Samu in for the opening try after just 45-seconds.

Easts got on the board through a Henry Hudson penalty but with the breakdown being contested incredibly fiercely, neither side was able to gain momentum or get in scoring range for the next half an hour.

Randwick No. 8 Nathan Paila is wrestled to the ground by Easts flyhalf Henry Hudson
Photo: seiserphotography.com

Taumoepeau was sent to the sinbin for a professional foul (“I just really didn’t want to let them score, it was a stupid penalty really”) and each side notched three-pointers before a couple of quick penalties after the halftime siren allowed the Wicks to march downfield and Tristan Goodbody burrowed over in the corner for a 15-6 lead at the break.

Randwick’s third try came against the run of play after flyhalf David Horwitz made his third line-break of the afternoon. The Wicks playmaker shot through some disorganised defence following a turnover and as the Beasties scrambled, a couple of speculative off-loads kept the play alive and Goodbody notched his second for a 22-6 advantage.

Easts camped in Randwick’s territory in the closing stages and earned enough penalties to win the game as Lam and openside Tom Connor were each sinbinned, but the home-side lacked the finishing touches against a staunch Wicks defence.

A try to Anton La Vin four minutes from fulltime was little consolation as Hudson missed an 80th minute penalty that would have earned Easts a bonus-point.

Eastern Suburbs must dust themselves off in time for next weekend’s trip to Manly Oval while Randwick host Warringah at Coogee Oval.

Randwick 22 (Tristan Goodbody 2, Peter Samu tries; Harrison Boileau 2 cons, pen) def Eastern Suburbs 13 (Anton La Vin try; Henry Hudson con, 2 pens)